IPINAALAM ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso na hindi siya dadalo sa mga sumusunod na pagsisiyasat sa di umano’y maling paggamit ng Department of Education (DepEd) ng budget nito.
Ang congressional investigation para kay VP Sara ay “unnecessary.”
Habang dumalo naman si VP Sara sa initial investigation ng House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability noong nakaraang linggo, sinabi ni VP Sara na hindi na siya dadalo sa mga susunod pang pagsisiyasat at pagdinig ng panel.
“The inquiry is based on unsubstantiated allegations contained in a privilege speech by Cong. Rolando Valeriano… Cong. Valeriano merely cited the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budget of the OVP were concentrated in the National Capital Region,” ayon kay VP Sara sa liham na natanggap ng Kongreso, araw ng Miyerkules.
“Such claims can be verified through the accomplishment reports submitted by the OVP to support its 2025 budget proposal, and confirmed through various news reports, COA reports and postings on various social media platforms,” ang nakasaad sa liham.
“Clearly the conduct of a formal inquiry or hearing on the matter is unnecessary.”aniya pa rin.
Dapat na mag-draft ang mga mambabatas ng House bill “to ensure that the discussions would be germane to the subject matter.”
Tinuran ni VP Sara na “invitation of the Committee itself lacks any clear legislative objective or contemplated legislation that is expected as an outcome of the deliberations.”
“Inquiries should not be adversarial nor prosecutorial and should recognize the right of persons to refuse or participate in the crafting of laws,” ang sinabi ni VP Sara.
“The HOR cannot compel people to participate in the legislative process and such right is protected by the Constitution,” aniya pa rin.
Kinalampag din si VP Sara ang Kongreso sa di umano’y maling paggamit nito ng ‘right to conduct investigations in aid of legislation.’
“The use of the term ‘investigation’ in the Rules appears to depart from the purpose of merely aiding legislation and refers more to the investigative powers associated with judicial processes,” ang nakasaad pa rin sa kanyang liham.
“Such is violative of the principle of separation of powers, since it is well-established that the House of Representatives does not hold any judicial or prosecutorial authority,” ang sinabi pa ni VP Sara.
“It must be emphasized that ambiguous rules or unconstitutional rules of procedure are violative of the right to due process of persons appearing before committee hearings,” aniya pa rin.
Nag-ugat ang imbestigasyon ng Kongreso mula sa privilege speech ni Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano at manipestasyon ni Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro sa di umano’y ang DepEd — sa ilalim ng liderato ni VOP Sara ay nabigong makapaghatid ng ilang computers at iba pang materyales na binili ng ahensiya.
Noong nakaraang linggo, nagpakita si VP Sara sa House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability at tinawag ang proceedings ng panel na isang “political attack.”
“I will not allow myself to be subjected to an inquiry based on an empty privilege speech just so you can attack me… I therefore request this committee to terminate this inquiry for clear lack of any proposed legislation or substantive matter for discussion,” giit ni VP Sara.
Sa ilalim ng House rules, tyanging ang mga halal na mambabatas lamang ang maaaring kumilos na i-terminate ang proceedings ng chamber.
Bagama’t hindi sinunod ng Kongreso ang kahilingan ni VP na tapusin na ang pagsisiyasat, payagan naman ng komite si VP Sara na umalis ng maaga.
Sinabi ni VP Sara na ang OVP ay “filing its comments in response to various petitions filed before the Supreme Court” and “cooperating and coordinating with the Commission on Audit in accordance with the latter’s Rules of Procedure.”
“To date, the audit process has not been terminated,” ang sinabi pa rin ni VP Sara sa kanyang liham sa Kongreso.
Samantala, maliban sa congressional inquiry, dinedma rin ni VP Sara ang plenary deliberations ng Kongreso para sa 2025 budget request ng OVP. Kris Jose
