Vice President Inday Sara Duterte attends the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability at the People’s Center, House of Representatives today, September 18, 2024. Courtesy: Office of the Vice President

MANILA (UPDATE) — Vice President Sara Duterte swiftly left the hearing of a House panel investigating her office's fund use, avoiding a possible confrontation with lawmakers eager to grill the official as in their previous encounters.

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

Just minutes after the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability began its hearing, Duterte asked panel chair Rep. Joel Chua that she be allowed to leave.

"May I request to leave the inquiry?" she asked, without citing a reason.

Chua approved her request.

"Ma'am puwede naman po considering na hindi rin naman po kayo naka-oath at marami kayong ginagawa," he said.

"Thank you, thank you everyone, good morning," Duterte replied.

At that point, only a handful of lawmakers were able to ask the resource persons about the OVP's fund use. They also were also not able to question Duterte directly.

• Squid served at House after VP Duterte’s office accused of using ‘squid tactics’

As for Duterte, she was able to deliver her opening speech, where she said she would not submit herself to the House inquiry, which according to her was part of a "well-funded" political attack against her.

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said Duterte's presence would not be material to the probe since she refused to even take an oath and would probably not answer their inquiries. 

"Since the Vice President did not take the oath, and I think wala naman s'yang sasabihin kung tatanungin natin siya, so mabuti na lang umalis na sya," Castro said.

The panel proceeded to conduct the hearing even without Duterte or any representative from the OVP.

'STOP THE DRAMA'

Meanwhile, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas urged Duterte to "stop the drama" and simply address the lawmakers' concerns on her office.

"Vice President Duterte's refusal to take an oath and her swift exit from the hearing is a clear sign of guilt...[She] should stop the drama. Accusing legislators of plotting her impeachment is a diversion from the real issue at hand—the misuse of public funds," Brosas said.

• ‘Hindi ako bratinella’: Sara Duterte says ‘spoiled brat’ tag part of political attack

Former lawmaker Liza Maza, who is gunning for a Senate seat next year, said Duterte once again displayed her "pure bratinella attitude."

“Your assertion of being unbound confirms yet again your pure bratinella attitude. Surely, you are bound by the office and authority you have sworn into as a public official. Refusing to acknowledge that is very, very, very dangerous,” Maza warned.

After the hearing, panel chair Chua denied that the probe was part of a grand effort ahead of a planned impeachment against Duterte.

"Tayo naman trabaho lang. With respect sa impeachment wala naman akong alam don, wala akong idea. Basta tayo ginagawa lang ang trabaho," he said. —With a report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

RELATED VIDEO: