House Speaker Martin Romualdez has issued a direct challenge to Vice President Sara Duterte, urging her to appear at the ongoing congressional hearings probing the alleged misuse of confidential funds by her office.
Speaking at the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Albay on November 21, Romualdez addressed the escalating tension, marking his first public criticism since their political fallout.
Romualdez called for Duterte to provide clarity on the spending of the controversial funds, stating that only her testimony can resolve the matter.
The dispute comes as the Office of the Vice President faces scrutiny for confidential fund expenditures, including reports of spending ₱16 million on safe houses in just 11 days.
Duterte has attended only one of six House hearings, sparking accusations of evasion. Instead of facing lawmakers, she has opted for press conferences to defend herself, accusing Congress of political persecution.
Critics have accused Duterte of deflecting blame onto her subordinates, with Romualdez and others emphasizing that accountability cannot be avoided. The investigation into the OVP’s spending continues, with calls for transparency growing louder.
