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Speaker Romualdez does not mention Vice President Sara Duterte in his speech, but it comes days after his allies in Congress mention the VP’s name and the word ‘graft’ or ‘corruption’ in the same sentence
MANILA, Philippines – In an apparent swipe at Vice President Sara Duterte, House Speaker Martin Romualdez opened plenary debates on the proposed 2025 budget on Monday, September 16, with a speech that calls out individuals who misuse public funds.
“We cannot ignore the reality that there are those who seek to undermine our work, critics who speak of accountability while conveniently ignoring their own misuse of public funds,” Romualdez said. “This chamber will not tolerate hypocrisy nor will it stand idle in the face of such blatant disregard for public trust.”
“Hindi maaaring magturo ng daliri ang mga may sariling kasalanan. Sa harap ng Kongreso, lahat ay dadaan sa tamang proseso, at walang makakatakas sa pananagutan (Those who have their own sins cannot point fingers. Everyone will undergo the correct process before Congress, and no one will escape accountability),” he added.
While the Speaker did not name Duterte, the statement came after his key allies criticized the Vice President for repeatedly refusing to answer questions on her past confidential expenses, and even snubbing the second round of budget deliberations for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Last week, House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe warned Duterte that if she fails to explain what happened to the P73 million in 2022 confidential funds that the Commission on Audit disallowed, she may be criminally liable for graft.
House appropriations chairperson Zaldy Co had also asked why the chamber should approve the OVP’s budget request of P2.037 billion for 2025 “amid all these funds misuse and apparent corruption.”
The word war between Duterte and the House has intensified in the past weeks, with the Vice President accusing Romualdez and Co of meddling in the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was its secretary.
Duterte dropped the education portfolio and resigned from the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June, signaling the dissolution of the 2022 alliance that catapulted both of them to election victory.
Duterte, during her only House appearance last month to defend her agency’s budget, also accused lawmakers of plotting her removal from office.
Romualdez’s decision to use the phrase “misuse of public funds” is significant because it’s the same line of messaging used by ACT Teachers Representative France Castro when she claimed that Duterte may have committed an impeachable offense.
House leaders, however, have denied talks of impeachment against the Vice President. – Rappler.com
