Breaking with rules and traditions, Vice President Sara Duterte refused to take the oath to tell the truth at the start of a House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing regarding the alleged misuse of millions in funds for socio-economic programs by her office.
At the start of the hearing, committee chairman Manila Rep. Joel Chua directed the committee secretary to ask all invited resource persons from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Department of Budget and Management, and Commission on Audit to rise and take an oath to tell the truth regarding the matters they would be asked about.
The oath is usually given to all those invited as resource persons and witnesses in congressional hearings.
It simply states: “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (in this inquiry)? So help you, God.”
However, before the oath could be administered, Duterte questioned whether she, as a resource person, was required to take the oath. She invoked the committee’s rules on legislative inquiries, arguing that only witnesses were required to take such an oath.
Chua explained that it is the practice in House hearings to swear in both witnesses and resource persons and even the late former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III took their oath when invited as resource persons during a congressional inquiry.
Former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, an ally of the Dutertes, supported the Vice President’s stand on the issue.
Arroyo cited a Supreme Court ruling and a Senate precedent under which she said a witness is given more protection than a resource person since the former may find himself or herself as an accused.
However, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores informed Arroyo that no person invited to the hearing could be classified as an accused yet.
Chua noted Arroyo’s remarks but maintained the committee’s position.
Following this exchange, Duterte delivered her seven-minute opening statement and declared that the OVP did not misuse its funds.
“In view of the said letter, I am appearing before you today not only as the head of office but, more importantly, as the duly-authorized representative of all officials of the OVP — simply because we have not done anything wrong.”
She stressed the OVP’s readiness to be audited, as well as to face the courts.
“There is no misuse of funds. If there are audit findings, we shall gladly respond to them before the Commission on Audit. And if there are legitimate cases to be filed, then we shall gladly respond to them before the appropriate courts,” she added.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman ang budget ang puntirya ninyo dahil napakadali naman magtanggal ng budget. What you are trying to do is make a case for impeachment” Duterte argued, adding that the proceeding is a well-funded and coordinated political attack to discredit her for political gain in the upcoming 2028 presidential election.
She insisted that her office had done nothing wrong.
“You may try to destroy me. You can skin me alive, burn me, and throw my ashes to the wind. But let it be known: You will find me unbowed,” according to her.
Duterte maintained her decision to allow the House of Representatives to act independently in the OVP budget for 2025 and insisted that she is not asking for any special treatment or asking to uphold any tradition.
“You have the complete freedom to do whatever you wish to the OVP budget. If you feel that all documentary submission are not enough, then by all means, huwag kayo magbigay ng budget,” she reiterated.
At the end, the Vice President asked Chua to terminate the hearing on Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano’s Sept. 3 privilege speech on supposedly questionable OVP expenses for its socio-economic programs in Metro Manila but the latter told the Vice President he could not abruptly end the hearing because the panel had just decided to take cognizance of and jurisdiction over the Valeriano speech.
