The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) - Philippines called on Congress to support the impeachment efforts, in light of the corruption allegations against Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte.
On Saturday, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro urged the House officials to remain steadfast in its investigation into the allegations against the VP. She also called on House officials to ensure accountability in its investigation.
"We challenge the House leadership to support impeachment efforts in light of these brazen maneuvers. The November 25 hearing of the Committee on Good [Government] must proceed as scheduled to get to the bottom of these allegations," Castro stressed.
Castro highlighted Duterte’s recent “melodrama” as a calculated effort to divert the public’s attention from the anomalies of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) usage of its confidential funds.
"This melodrama is clearly orchestrated to deflect public attention from the real issue - the questionable use of P125 million in confidential funds spent in just 11 days last December 2022," she said.
While the VP previously refused to directly answer questions related to the usage of her office and DepEd’s funds, Castro pointed out how the former now resorts to making a spectacle of herself to change the narrative.
"Ginagawa niyang circus ang Kongreso para mailihis ang usapin sa mga seryosong alegasyon ng katiwalian. Ang drama ay hindi sasagot sa mga katanungan tungkol sa hindi mapatunayan na paggamit ng confidential funds," Castro said.
Meanwhile, former ACT Teacher’s Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio also chimed in on Castro’s sentiments, stating the lack of documentation from the office.
"Nakita nating peke ang mga accomplishment reports, walang matibay na documentation, at may mga pinekeng pangalan pa. Ang COA mismo ay naglabas ng notice of disallowance dahil sa mga paglabag sa paggamit ng confidential funds," Tinio said.
Instead of facing the Committee’s probe, Tinio emphasized how the VP chose to portray herself as the victim. Due to this, the House should not be distracted by such “theatrics” and must proceed with its investigation of the irregularities on confidential funds.
"Instead of answering these serious allegations, the Vice President chooses to put on a show and portray herself as a victim. The House leadership should not be distracted by these theatrics and must proceed with its investigation of these fund irregularities," Tinio emphasized.
Additionally, Castro also urged the public not to be swayed by the VP’s “drama.”
"Hindi dapat magpadala sa drama. Ang kailangan ng taumbayan ay katotohanan at pananagutan, hindi palabas,” Castro ended.
Castro called out Duterte recently on her “selective appearance,” as the latter found time to tend to other priorities, but is suddenly unavailable when invited to the House Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe on the misuse of confidential funds.
