Vice President Sara Duterte attends the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing on Sept. 18, 2024. House of Representatives/Facebook

MANILA — Tempers flared on Wednesday as congressmen with opposing views argued whether the House inquiry into issues surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte’s utilization of public funds should continue.

• Sara Duterte says 'never again' teaming up with Marcoses

Among the issues raised in the hearing is the Commission on Audit’s notice of disallowance on P73 million of the OVP’s P125 million confidential expenses in December 2022. 

SAGIP Party List Rodante Marcoleta argued that the notice of disallowance is not a final judgment. Duterte previously said her office will cooperate with the “ongoing and unfinished audit”. 

“Hindi po final judgment ang notice of disallowance… The vice president has six months to reply and make an answer. Six months is up to February 2025. We should give her the allowance, the time. Why are we rushing to make judgment?” Marcoleta asked.

“We should make a prior and preliminary determination that she is directly and principally connected to malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance. We have not made that determination,” he added. 

• VP Duterte moves to 'terminate' House probe into fund use: 'This is a political attack'

"Are you rebuking this committee?” Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. asked. 

“Why am I supposed to rebuke the committee? I have not!” Marcoleta replied. 

“You have been saying things for a while! You have been rebuking the committee! We are not blaming the Vice President on this!” Abante said. 

As the two lawmakers raised their voices, House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairperson Rep. Joel Chua temporarily suspended the hearing. 

But during the period the hearing was suspended, another heated argument ensued between Marcoleta and Abang Lingkod Party List Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano. 

Paduano was seen raising a finger at Marcoleta, which was shooed by the latter.  

“Sino ang nag-establish? Wala ngang prior determination eh!” Marcoleta could be heard saying. 

Other congressmen intervened to part the two lawmakers. 

In response to Marcoleta, Chua said the committee already made a preliminary determination earlier in the hearing. 

“We have already ruled on the preliminary determination a while ago. Medyo na-late lang po kayo... The issue on confidential funds is a matter of public interest,” he explained.

Duterte briefly appeared in the panel hearing but left before lawmakers got the chance to question her.

RELATED VIDEO