ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Vice President Sara Duterte is being "selective" with her appearances at the House of Representatives, which shouldn't be the case.

Thus, said Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro as she joined other ranking solons in castigating Duterte for her unannounced visit and overnight stay at the House in Batasan, Quezon City. 

Castro said that Duterte pulled off her move even as she refused to face the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability's investigation on alleged confidential funds misuse under oath.

"The Vice President has time to visit and even spend the night at the House of Representatives, but apparently has no time to face the committee and explain to the Filipino people how hundreds of millions in confidential funds were spent under her watch. This selective appearance speaks volumes about accountability and transparency," Castro said in a statement Friday, Nov. 22.

The Makabayan congresswoman and aspiring senator emphasized that public officials must be ready to account for public funds entrusted to them. 

"We reiterate our call for VP Sara Duterte to attend our hearings and explain under oath. The Filipino people deserve no less than full transparency and accountability, especially concerning billions in confidential funds," she said.

"Kung walang tinatago, bakit hindi humaharap? (Why not surface if you have nothing to hide?) The Vice President's continued absence from our hearings while finding time for other House visits only reinforces public doubt about the use of these funds," Castro further said.

Vice President Duterte made an impromptu appearance at the House of Representatives at just before 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in order to visit her detained chief-of-staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez. 

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Duterte elected to stay overnight afterward, despite pleas for House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas for her to leave for security reasons. 

She remains within the premises of the House of Representatives as of this posting.

The Vice President no-showed the good government panel's hearing Wednesday, Nov. 20 despite receiving an invitation for it. The next hearing is slated on Monday, Nov. 25.