Fernan Carigma

Vice President Sara Duterte's assertion that the 2022 presidency was "hers" has prompted political controversy, with lawmakers questioning the basis of her claim and her decision not to run for the highest office.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine News Agency/Rappler.

Duterte made the remark during an interview at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, on November 30. Her comments come amid increased scrutiny over her office's confidential funds and growing tensions between the Marcos and Duterte political families.

“The presidency of 2022 was mine already. I won the surveys, all the people were solidly united for my candidacy, but I gave it away,” the vice president stated.

Lawmakers refuted her statement, noting inconsistencies in her narrative and questioning why she chose to pursue the vice presidency instead.

“The presidency is determined by destiny. If it was truly hers, why didn’t she run for it in 2022?” House Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora said .

Zamora noted that it is already 2025 and questioning why the claim was being made now. 

“In the course of those hearings, ang daming lumabas, ang daming acknowledgment receipts, ang daming lumabas na puwede naman sanang sagutin (a lot of issues came up, a lot of acknowledgment receipts, a lot of matters that could have been answered),” Zamora stated. 

Zamora clarified that the inquiry focused on transparency, not harassment, as she contested the Vice President's assertions of “gaslighting” and “terrorizing” her staff through the congressional investigation.

“She filed to run as vice president. If she believed she had it in the bag, why didn’t she go for the presidency?” Zamora added.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is investigating the alleged misuse of millions of pesos in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte's time as secretary.

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong highlighted the importance of Congress in overseeing legislation.

“The only way for us to find out is to hold these inquiries and to hold anybody accountable. ’Yun lang naman talaga ‘yung gusto nating mangyari (That’s all we want to happen), in aid of legislation,” Adiong stated, in line with congress’  mandate of legislature.

1-Rider Party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez charged Duterte with shifting the focus away from lingering concerns about confidential funds by bringing up the presidency.

“She’s answering the issue by bringing up politics and the presidency, but I think what we have to note here is that this issue goes way back — before the Good Government Committee and before people were talking about whether it’s the presidency or not,” Gutierrez emphasized during the press briefing of House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, on December 02.

He reminded the Vice President that the ongoing investigations originated from budget discussions in which several crucial questions still needed to be addressed.