Vice President Sara Duterte (Noel Pabalate/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Majority and minority members of the House of Representatives are united in their current opinion of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

And it's not a very pleasant opinion, especially amid her refusal to face the House investigation on alleged confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) misuse, as well as her meltdown in connection with her chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez's detention in the premises of the lower chamber.

"Ang tunay na isyu rito ay ang P612.5 milyon na confidential funds na kailangang ipaliwanag ng Bise Presidente sa publiko. Hindi dapat magpadala sa mga diversionary tactics na ganito," Assistant Majority Leader Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun said.

(The real issue is the P612.5-million confidential funds that the Vice President needs to explain to the public. We shouldn't be distracted by these diversionary tactics.

Khonghun criticized Duterte’s statement suggesting the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were killed, calling it a clear distraction.

“Instead of addressing the allegations head-on, she is creating distractions that only sow fear and division,” he pointed out.

Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V said the Vice President "crossed the line” with her warning that President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez would be targeted by an assassin if she were to be killed.

“Hindi normal ang ganitong klase ng pahayag mula sa isang mataas na opisyal ng gobyerno. Dapat nating tanungin, nasa tamang pag-iisip pa ba si Vice President Duterte? These words are dangerous, reckless, and deeply concerning,” Ortega said.

(Coming from a high-ranking government official, these statements aren't normal. This begs the question, is Vice President Duterte of sound mind?)

He continued, “Kung hindi niya kayang kontrolin ang kanyang emosyon at pahayag, baka panahon na para magpatingin siya sa eksperto.”

(If she can't control her emotions and utterances, then maybe it's time to see an expert.)

Assistant Minority Leader and Camarines Sur 3rd district Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. agrees with his counterparts from the majority. 

Bordado described Duterte’s comments as “disrespectful” to the President and the House of Representatives and urged her to prioritize addressing serious issues of accountability surrounding the use of public funds.

Bordado said that instead of igniting tensions, the Vice President should set a good example by answering the long-standing question about her office's disbursement of P125 million in confidential funds in December 2022, reportedly spent in just 11 days. 

“It is essential that public funds are managed responsibly, with the needs of the Filipino people at the core of every decision. The public deserves clear answers and transparency—not theatrics," he added.

Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, for her part, slammed Vice President Duterte over her alleged planned dramatics.

"This melodrama is clearly orchestrated to deflect public attention from the real issue - the questionable use of P125 million in confidential funds spent in just 11 days last December 2022," Castro stated. 

"The Vice President refuses to directly answer questions about these funds during budget hearings, and now resorts to creating controversy to change the narrative," she said.

"Ginagawa niyang circus ang Kongreso para mailihis ang usapin sa mga seryosong alegasyon ng katiwalian. Ang drama ay hindi sasagot sa mga katanungan tungkol sa hindi mapatunayan na paggamit ng confidential funds," Castro added.

(She's making a circus out of Congress in order to divert from the series allegations of corruption. This drama won't address the questionable utilization of confidential funds.)