Vice President Sara Duterte appeared before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to address concerns raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding her office’s budget. She firmly denied any misuse of public funds, assuring the committee that any audit findings would be addressed appropriately.
During the hearing, Duterte refused to take an oath, stating that as a resource person and not a witness, she was not required to do so under House rules. Her stance was supported by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and SAGIP Representative Rodante Marcoleta, who argued that Duterte should not be forced into making statements that could incriminate her.
Duterte described the inquiry as a “well-funded and coordinated political attack” designed to harm her potential candidacy in the 2028 elections, asserting that the investigation was less about accountability and more about damaging her political prospects. Despite this, she maintained that she would remain resilient in the face of these efforts.
The House appropriations panel has since recommended cutting the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget by P1.29 billion following Duterte’s refusal to engage in further discussions regarding her office’s finances.