Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte skipped the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s hearing on Wednesday, November 20.
In an affidavit addressed to the Committee Chairperson and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, the Vice President clarified that she had only been invited once to the Committee’s hearing. Her letter was concerning the House panel’s letter last November 13, which she received the same day. However, she clarified that the invitation asked that she specifically attend the hearing on September 18.
Moreover, the VP also highlighted how the House panel did not ask her any questions during the hearing. Hence, she requested to be excused from the Committee’s probe.
“It may also be recalled that despite attending the hearing last September 18, 2024, I was not asked a single question which then prompted my request to eventually be excused,” she emphasized.
Considering this, the VP informed the panel that she will not be attending the hearing scheduled on Wednesday, November 20.
“In view of the foregoing, I would like to respectfully inform you that I will not be attending the hearing scheduled on November 20, 2024,” the VP wrote.
Duterte requested that her letter be integrated and be made part of the Committee’s official records.
Just in> Atty Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff ni VP Sara Duterte, dumadalo sa hearing ng House Blue Ribbon Comm.
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) November 20, 2024
VP Sara nagsumite ng sulat na hindi talaga sisipot sa hearing @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/4NtWucjlG1
In a press conference on Tuesday, two lawmakers urged the VP to attend the upcoming probe, as the submission of one letter would not be sufficient for the inquiry. House Blue Ribbon Chairman Rep. Joel Chua specified that they have a lot of questions lined up for the VP, including her office officials.
"Yung sworn affidavit is not enough. Marami po kasing katanungan nung mga kasama po natin sa komite na gusto rin po namin malinawan," Chua said.
Meanwhile, Taguig Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora pointed out how the VP attended the Quad Committee’s hearing on her father’s war on drugs campaign in the past week. According to the lawmaker, VP Duterte will lose her chance to defend the existing budget issue with her office and the Department of Education (DepEd), if she will skip the next hearing.
"Kasi if she doesn't arrive and kahit may sworn affidavit siya, she loses her chance na mas mabigyang linaw yung mga issue na ‘to. Kung kaya naman niyang ipagtanggol ang sarili niya, she should come," Zamora said.
The House Blue Ribbon Committee conducted its probe on the OVP and DepEd’s funds on Wednesday, where the OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, was in attendance.
