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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ortega asks VP Duterte: What have you contributed to the country?

Ortega asks VP Duterte: What have you contributed to the country?

Published May 4, 2025 05:25 pm

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V has asked Vice President Sara Duterte point blank: What have you really contributed to the nation as Vice President?
What have you contributed to the country?
This was House Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V's very straightforward question to impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday, May 4.
“Ano ba talaga ang naitulong mo sa bayan bilang Bise Presidente? Imbes na tumulong, parang puro gulo at pag-iwas ang naging ambag mo (What have you really contributed to the nation as Vice President? Instead of helping, it seems like your contribution has only been chaos and evasion)," Ortega told the second highest official of the land.
In the backdrop of this statement was the Vice President's renewed attacks against the House of Representatives on the subject of the 2025 national budget, and the administration congressmen' repeated challenge for her to answer the multiple allegations in her impeachment complaint.
Duterte has been the Vice President since June 30, 2022.
Ortega says Duterte’s refusal to explain her actions is not just an insult to members of the House of Representatives but a grave disservice to the Filipino people who deserve accountability and transparency from their leaders.
“Dahil sa isyu ng pananagutan bilang halal na mga opisyal, hindi mo puwedeng sabihin na ‘ayoko magpaliwanag’ tapos gusto mong igagalang ka ng taumbayan. Ang tunay na lider, marunong humarap, hindi nagtatago,” Ortega stressed.
(Regarding the issue of accountability as elected officials, you cannot simply say ‘I don’t want to explain’ and then expect the people to respect you. A true leader knows how to face the situation, not hide.)
The Ilocano added that no amount of political attacks against President Marcos and House leaders led by Speaker Martin Romualdez can erase the fact that Duterte stands impeached for alleged betrayal of public trust, violations of the Constitution and grave misconduct.
“Naka-base ang mga isyu laban sa kanya sa dokumento at ebidensyang inilabas mismo ng Commission on Audit (COA). Hindi puwedeng panay iwas siya at paninisi. Totoo, hindi gawa-gawa ang mga isyu laban sa kanya, at walang pamumulitika,” Ortega said.
(The issues against her are based on documents and evidence released by the COA itself. She cannot just keep avoiding and blaming others. These issues are real, not fabricated, and have nothing to do with political maneuvering.)
Last Feb. 5, 215 members of the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to impeach Duterte following damning revelations of irregularities, including the unexplained disbursement of P612.5 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was still its secretary.
“Sa Senado, wala nang takas. Dapat handa siyang sagutin lahat ng mga tanong. At higit sa lahat, dapat handa siyang harapin ang katotohanan (In the Senate, there is no escape. She must be ready to answer all questions. And most importantly, he/she must be ready to face the truth),” Ortega said.
There are seven articles of impeachment against Vice President Duterte.
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