MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio called the House of Representatives’ inquiry regarding the alleged fund misuse of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education as a “well-funded political attack.”
In her opening speech before the House committee on good governance and public accountability, Duterte-Carpio said the inquiry aimed at discrediting her ahead of the 2028 elections.
“What we are witnessing is no ordinary legislative inquiry. This is a well-funded and coordinated political attack,” Vice President said in front of congressmen.
“This much is evident from the very words of the privilege speech that prompted this inquiry. A speech that simply meant to say ‘Do not vote for Sara in 2028,’” she added.
“It is clear to me that this inquiry is not about misused funds, accountability or governance. Instead, it is solely aimed at discrediting my name and my office to prevent future political contests,” she further said.
Duterte-Carpio also repeated that if there are questions about spending at the OVP and the DepEd under her tenure, she will gladly answer them before the courts and not before congressmen.
“We have not done anything wrong. There’s no misuse of public funds. If there are audit findings, we shall gladly respond to them, before the COA (Commission on Audit). If there are legitimate cases to be filed, we shall respond to them before the appropriate courts,” she said.
“I take notice of the opening speeches and nasabi doon there is a determination of misfeasance, nonfeasance and malfeasance. Those are cases that should properly be taken in the courts of law,” she added.
Duterte-Carpio also told the congressmen that she is leaving it to them what they want to do with the proposed 2025 OVP budget as her office already submitted the documents needed to justify their funds.
“All I am saying is, you have complete freedom to do whatever you wish with the OVP budget. If you feel that the documentary submissions are not enough, then by all means huwag kayo magbigay ng budget,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman ang budget ang puntirya ninyo, dahil napakadali naman magtanggal ng budget. What you are trying to do is make a case for impeachment,” she added.
“Just as we’ve done last year, we again leave the 2025 OVP budget to the pleasure of Congressman (Ferdinand) Martin Romualdez,” the Vice President further said./PN
