Duterte skips budget deliberation, calls to ‘terminate inquiry immediately’

Vice President and former Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Sept. 25, told the House of Representatives through a letter that she will not be present as a resource speaker for the inquiry into the Office of the VIce President’s (OVP) and Department of Education’s (DepEd) alleged misuse of its budget.

In her three-page letter, Duterte cited reasons for her absence and ended by reiterating her request that the budget be terminated immediately.

According to Duterte, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability lacked a clear legislative purpose or any anticipated legislation from the hearings.

“The invitation of the Committee itself lacks any clear legislative objective or contemplated legislation that is expected as an outcome of the deliberations,” Duterte said in the letter.

Duterte also claimed the inquiry was now building upon “unsubstantiated allegations” from a privilege speech of Manila second district Congressman Rolando Valeriano and such claims can be easily verified through the reports of the OVP, labelling the inquiry ‘unnecessary’.

She asserted that the House was starting to detach from its legislative function and now tapping into judicial affairs by conducting investigative processes, adding that the House cannot compel one to participate in the hearings.

“Such is violative of the principle of separation of powers, since it is well-established that the House of Representatives does not hold any judicial or prosecutorial authority,” Duterte stated in the letter.

“It must be emphasized that ambiguous rules or unconstitutional rules of procedure are violative of the right to due process of persons appearing before committee hearings,” she added.

Last week, Duterte also called for the inquiry’s termination after appearing in a related budget inquiry, where she refused to take an oath and stated that the hearing was a “well-funded and coordinated political attack.”

After asserting to the committee that there was no misuse of funds in the offices Duterte led, she left the hearing shortly after the statement.

During the past week, multiple sources had verified that Duterte was spotted around the Bicol Region, particularly Camarines Sur for the Peñafrancia Festival and a surprise visit to predecessor former Vice President Leni Robredo.

On Tuesday, a spot report by the Camarines Norte police confirmed that from Sept. 21, Duterte was spotted in a resort in Calaguas Islands and then left for Vinzons on Sept. 23 to meet with local officials.

The 23rd, however, was the day the OVP supposedly was expected to show-up and defend its budget at the House committee.

In a press conference held on Sept. 25, she told reporters the police report was accurate and explained that she was in Camarines Norte to visit island barangays and was then invited to a local festival in capital Daet.