Vice President Sara Duterte graces the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Pasay City on October 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA (UPDATED) -- Vice President Sara Duterte no longer expects fairness from the House of Representatives, citing that the investigations on her father and her self are "political persecution."

Speaking to reporters after the OVP's budget for 2025 breezed through the Senate plenary session, Duterte said she hasn't had a chance to talk to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte who was also facing the House Quad Comm.

Duterte said her father's decision to attend is a personal one, in the same way that the decision of OVP personnel to attend another House hearing on the OVP's finances is also their personal decision.

"Well, ang pag-attend naman sa hearing tulad ng sa nangyayari sa amin sa Office of the Vice President as a personal decision talaga ng tao na inimbitihan. Tulad sa amin, yung iba gusto pumunta, yung iba inuuna nila yung trabaho nila. Pero sinasabi naman nila, iniexplain nila ng maayos kung bakit makakarating o hindi makakarating. And nagcoco-operate naman yung pumupunta. So it's a personal decision kung mag-attend or hindi," Duterte said.

Asked if she expects a fair hearing at the House on her father, the younger Duterte said, "Of course not, no I do not expect fairness."

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"Because this is clearly a political persecution. Nakita ko na nga, ilang beses ko na inulit, no? Last year pa lang, even if approved naman sa NEP yung budget ng OVP, pagdating namin sa House of Representatives, binanatan kami ng binanatan, nilabasan kami, pinalabasan kami ng AOM, ng COA sunod-sunod, and then ngayon nakita natin yung budget hearing namin, yung mga tanong hindi naman related sa mga proposals namin, ng mga projects, related siya sa confidential funds. So nandun pa rin yung storyline nila na attack sa confidential funds. And so yun nga, nakita naman natin na pag-slash ng budget ng Office of the Vice President," Duterte explained.

"Tulad na lang din ng experience namin sa House of Representatives. They use the rules according to their pleasure. Yung rules ng House of Representatives. Makikita natin na kahit unconstitutional na yung rules ay ginagamit pa rin," Duterte said.

"Kahit wala sa rules, gumagawa sila ng rules as they go along, as they do their hearings. In fact, the very reason kung bakit hindi ako nag-oath noong first time ako umatend ng kanilang hearing, because their rules do not require an oath for a resource person. Clear doon sa rules nila. Nakalagay doon, witnesses lang ang nag-oath. Eh pagkalagay naman nila sa akin doon, resource person. So, nakikita mo, ako, kasi ako wala namang mawawala sa akin," Duterte also said.

"So, I can stand my ground and say na no, hindi ako mag-oath. Pero yung mga maliliit na tao, ordinary employees na tinatakot, pinapahiya, syempre, they cannot say, no, I will not take my oath because hindi naman required ng rules yan." Duterte said, " Wala nang rules doon, kung makikita ninyo. Wala nang rules doon sa House of Representatives."

Duterte decried how people around them are being used as pawns.

"At hindi lang yan, madaming naapektuhan at madami ang mga tao na nakapalibot sa amin na hinaharass, pinakahirapan, mga ganon. But then again, sa akin, I'm a politician. It's okay with me. Kasama yan sa trabaho ko. Ang hindi ko lang gusto dito is nadadamau yung mga ordinary employees. Particularly ng Office of the Vice President and yung mga kaibigan. Pagdating naman kay President Duterte, yung sa kanya naman is yung paghahabol sa kanya ng ICC, paghahabol sa kanya sa alleged EJKs  nung administration niya. Bakit? Well, one would think, siguro kapag hinahabol ka, meron silang gusto na mawala sa iyo," Duterte said.

Asked if she worried for her father, Duterte said, "Do I worry about the former president? I don't think na pupunta siya diyan kung sa tingin niya hindi niya kaya or mahina siya health-wise. So, he'll be okay. "

Asked to interpret her father's pronouncement asking the ICC to investigate him, Duterte said, "Exactly as it is. Gusto niya na siguro na ipagsabay na yung investigation ng Quadcom sa EJK and ng ICC sa EJK para siguro magawa na at matapos na."

Duterte said for her part that the House no longer invites her. Asked if she will attend if they invite her, Duterte was non-committal.

"Well, depende. Kung ano na naman yung mga tanong nila. We've been asking them kung ano ba talaga yung legislation na kinakraft nila. And hanggang ngayon wala naman silang sinasabi kung ano yung legislation, in aid of legislation nila dyan," Duterte said.

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