By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
House leaders lamented Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that was issued over the weekend, with the latter citing impeachment as the “proper venue” to address allegations against her, even downplaying it as an acceptable “inconvenience”.
House Assistant Majority Leaders Jay Khonghun (Zambales, 1st District) and Jude Acidre (Tingog Party-list) were quick to point out what they described as a pattern of evasion, citing Duterte’s refusal to take part in congressional hearings and a probe by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Rep. Khonghun called Duterte’s remarks another example of what he described as “lip service” to accountability.
“Again, it’s another lip service ng ating Bise Presidente dahil nakikita naman natin na napakadaming pagkakataon na kailangan niyang magpaliwanag, [ngunit] hindi naman siya nagpapaliwanag,” Khonghun declared.
“Ngayon, ang sinasabi niya through impeachment ay makakapagpaliwanag siya. Pero nakikita naman natin, ini-snub niya ang hearing sa Kongreso, ini-snub niya ang hearing sa NBI, hindi siya nagpupunta, hindi nagpapakita,” he added, expressing hope that the second-highest government official would make up her mind about her actions.
Likewise, Acidre accused Duterte of portraying herself as untouchable and placing herself above mechanisms of accountability.
“Kung sinabi man ’yan ng Pangalawang Pangulo, we welcome it in the spirit of Christmas, we look forward to it. Kung gugustuhin lang po ni VP Sara na sumagot sa impeachment, tungkulin po niya na sumagot. Sabi nga natin, public office is a public trust,” he pointed out.
“Hindi po depende sa amin kung kailangan naming sagutin ang mga katanungan ng bayan. Tungkulin po namin na sagutin ang aming mga pananagutan sa taumbayan,” Rep. Acidre added further.
Meanwhile, Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V questioned the sincerity of the Vice President’s statement.
“Tama po siya. Pero ang problema paano kung walang impeachment? Saan na naman po siya sasagot? Baka wala na naman. Siguro mas maganda po na gawa na lang, hindi po salita,” he said, calling her impeachment remark a delay tactic to avoid answering the public’s concerns.
Vice President Duterte is under fire for several controversies involving public funds and her leadership, as well as her threatening remarks about an assassination plot on the First Couple and the House Speaker. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)
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