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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Sara told: Answer impeachment allegations instead of taking jabs at 2025 budget, Romualdez

VP Sara told: Answer impeachment allegations instead of taking jabs at 2025 budget, Romualdez

Published May 1, 2025 05:22 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-Jay" Suarez and House Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V told impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, May 1 to once and for all address the very specific allegations against her instead of continuing to make sweeping allegations of corruption regarding the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.
  • On Wednesday, April 30 in Cagayan de Oro, Duterte reportedly said that the supposed corruption in the P6.352-trillion GAA can no longer be undone, even if House Speaker Martin Romualdez gets replaced.
  • The 2025 national budget is the largest in the country's history.

FB_IMG_1724802992317.jpgVice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Ranking congressmen told impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, May 1 to once and for all address the very specific allegations against her instead of continuing to make sweeping allegations of corruption regarding the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.

House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-Jay" Suarez and House Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V are of the opinion that the Vice President is only trying to deflect action from the well-documented charges against her in the articles of impeachment.

On Wednesday, April 30 in Cagayan de Oro, Duterte reportedly said that the supposed corruption in the P6.352-trillion GAA can no longer be undone, even if House Speaker Martin Romualdez gets replaced.

Romualdez is the lady official's former Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party-mate-turned-nemesis.

“Walang kahit anong batayan ang paratang ng korapsyon laban sa House leadership. Ang tunay na isyu ay ang confidential funds na ginastos ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa loob lamang ng 11 araw, at kung bakit ang mga recipient ay may pangalan na tila kathang-isip—gaya nina ‘Mary Grace Piattos,’ ‘Jay Kamote,’ ‘Xiaome Ocho,’ at kung sinu-sino pang mukhang gawang pangalan lang. Ito ang dapat niyang ipaliwanag, hindi ang pagbibintang sa iba,” Suarez said.

(There is no basis for the accusation of corruption against the House leadership. The real issue is the confidential funds spent by Vice President Sara Duterte within just 11 days, and why the recipients have names that seem fabricated—such as ‘Mary Grace Piattos,’ ‘Jay Kamote,’ ‘Xiaome Ocho,’ and others that appear to be made-up names. This is what she should explain, not by throwing accusations at others.)

Suarez noted that there is no finding from the Commission on Audit (COA) or any independent agency that implicates the Speaker or the House of Representatives in any form of corruption.

In contrast, the deputy speaker pointed out that the allegations against Vice President--as spelled out in the seven articles of impeachment--were based on official COA findings and disbursement records.

The impeachment complaint accuses her of authorizing the release of P125 million in confidential funds over a span of just 11 days in December 2022, before the Office of the Vice President (OVP) was legally authorized to use such funds under the 2023 General Appropriations Act.

The P125 million is part of the larger P500-million OVP confidential funds that have yet to be accounted for, according to solons.

She is also alleged to have approved P112.5 million in confidential fund spending while serving as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), with liquidation reports identifying supposed intelligence recipients with implausible names like “Pampano,” “Jay Kamote,” and “Mary Grace Piattos”—none of whom appear on any legitimate government records.

“These are not mere political statements—they are findings backed by audit reports, official documents, and sworn statements. The Vice President owes the public a clear and honest explanation. If she believes in transparency, she should welcome the opportunity to respond to these charges in the Senate,” Suarez said.

Ortega, for his part, says Duterte is better off answering the issues against her instead of making claims that the 2025 national budget is tainted with corruption.

“Sa halip na magbato ng malalaking paratang, mas makabubuti kung harapin natin ang mga lehitimong tanong tungkol sa paggamit ng confidential and intelligence funds na umabot sa mahigit P600 milyon,” he said.

(Instead of throwing serious accusations, it would be better if we address legitimate questions regarding the use of confidential and intelligence funds amounting to over P600 million.)

“Ang pananagutan at pagiging bukas sa pagsagot ng mga tanong ay mahalagang bahagi ng tunay na pamumuno. Kung may isyu sa pondo ng bayan, karapatan ng publiko na malaman ang totoo,” Ortega said.

(Accountability and openness in answering questions are essential aspects of true leadership. If there are issues with public funds, the people have the right to know the truth.)

The 2025 national budget is the largest in the country’s history.

Related Tags

Martin Romualdez National Budget david Jay-jay suarez Sara Duterte paolo Ortega
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