Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua called baloney Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that she was only invited once to the inquiry of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which he himself chairs.

According to Chua, his panel--referred to as the House equivalent to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee--has made extensive efforts to accommodate the Vice President's participation.

“The committee has gone above and beyond to make sure she has every opportunity to present her side,” said Chua.

His panel has been investigating the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Duterte’s leadership.

Contrary to Duterte’s claim of a single invitation, Chua clarified that she was invited to both the first and second hearings, held on Sept. 18 and 25.

“She declined to attend the third, fourth, and fifth hearings scheduled on Oct. 17, Nov. 5, and Nov. 11, after submitting a formal letter stating she would not be present,” he pointed out.

In a letter dated Sept. 23 addressed to Chua, Duterte declined to attend further hearings. She cited constitutional concerns and argued that the inquiry was unnecessary, as the claims could be verified through public records.

The lady official has also criticized the House rules and alleged that they potentially violate constitutional rights. She noted that related issues are already pending before the Supreme Court.

During the House quad-ommittee hearing last Wednesday, which her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, attended, the Vice President was personally handed an invitation to the sixth hearing, scheduled for Nov. 20.

However, in a press conference at the Senate on Thursday, Duterte claimed she had not received any further invitations after attending the first hearing.

In a follow-up press conference on Friday, Duterte asserted that she felt sidelined during the initial hearing and claimed she was made to sit without being asked questions, which she described as a waste of her time.

During the Sept.18 hearing, Duterte declined to participate by refusing to take her oath as a resource person. She also did not respond directly to lawmakers’ questions, and left shortly after delivering a statement criticizing the investigation.

Chua strongly disputed Duterte’s characterization of the committee’s actions.

“The Vice President has been given every opportunity to clarify the use of public funds in her office, particularly those that are shielded from typical auditing processes due to confidentiality,” he said.

He added: “The House Blue Ribbon Committee is committed to transparency—especially for officials with substantial access to public money. The public deserves clear answers, and we expect all officials, especially those at the highest levels, to step forward and explain their spending.”