Solons urge Sara Duterte to attend House probe, say affidavit not enough

Two lawmakers on Tuesday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to attend the Nov. 20 House panel inquiry since her affidavit is allegedly insufficient to clarify the budget use of her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) under her administration.

"'Yung sworn affidavit is not enough. Marami po kasing katanungan nu'ng mga kasama po natin sa komite na gusto rin po namin malinawan," House Blue Ribbon Committee chair Rep. Joel Chua said in a press briefing.

(Her sworn affidavit is not enough. Some committee members have a lot of questions that we would also want to clarify with her.)

Duterte earlier said she would not attend the House hearing since it would be a waste of her time.

"Inimbita nila ako noong una, pumunta ako, umupo ako roon. Hindi naman nila ako tinanong. Nakaupo lang ako, nasasayang ang oras ko (They already invited me during the first hearing and I went there. I was sitting and they did not ask me questions. I was just sitting and my time was being wasted)," Duterte said.

The Vice President was referring to her attendance at the House panel inquiry, where she refused to take her oath before giving her testimony.

In the same press briefing on Tuesday, Taguig Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora said that if Duterte was able to attend the House QuadComm to accompany her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, then the vice president can also come to the House panel inquiry on Nov. 20.

"In fact, tinatanggap talaga ng committee 'yung sworn affidavit (In fact, the committee accepts a sworn affidavit). However, if she was able to come here last week, she should be able to go here tomorrow," said Zamora, who also serves as House assistant majority leader.

The vice president showed up at the House QuadComm's investigation on drug war killings under her father's administration.

Calling her father as a "Best Dramatic Actor" when he faced the House QuadComm, the vice president said her presence in the inquiry was to keep the health of the elder Duterte in check.

Zamora said, "Even though she said na hindi siya darating (Even though she said that she would not come), we hope she'll arrive tomorrow so that she can answer pertinent questions."

"Kasi if she doesn't arrive and kahit may sworn affidavit siya, she loses her chance na mas mabigyang linaw 'yung mga issue na ito. Kung kaya naman niyang ipagtanggol ang sarili niya, she should come," she added.

(Because if she doesn't arrive and even if she has an affidavit, she loses her chance to clarify these issues. If she can defend herself, she should come.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News