House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro expressed her bewilderment and dismay over Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte's “selective appearance,” as she finds time to spend the night at Congress, but is unavailable to attend the probe on the misuse of confidential funds.
In a statement on Friday, Castro cited the importance of getting the VP's explanation on how the confidential funds worth millions were spent. She said that Duterte has the time to accompany her Chief-of-Staff Under Secretary Zuleika Lopez, and her father and former President Rodrigo Duterte. However, when it comes to the Blue Ribbon Committee's invitations, she prefers not to attend.
“It’s bewildering and a dismay that the Vice President has time to visit and spend the night in Congress but she does not have the time to face the committee to explain the use of millions of confidential funds. These funds were sourced from the taxes paid by the Filipino people,” Castro said.
According to Castro, this “selective appearance” from the VP is proof that she lacks transparency and accountability, from the time of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) 2025 budget deliberations, to the Committee's probe on the 2022 to 2023 confidential funds of her office and the Department of Education (DepEd).
"This selective appearance speaks volumes about accountability and transparency," Castro stressed.
The lawmaker dared Duterte to face the House Committee and explain the anomalies linked to the confidential funds.
In a press conference on Friday, two House officials confirmed that the VP visited Lopez at the House premises yesterday, and stayed at her brother Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte's office.
After that, the VP requested that she be allowed to stay with Lopez until the end of her detention on Monday. However, the House officials denied her request, stating that she is a high profile personality and suggested that she visit regularly instead.
