MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has brushed off calls for her to immediately explain the controversial use of confidential funds under her office and the Department of Education, saying she will respond “in [her] own time” — and only through the impeachment trial filed against her.
Duterte-Carpio’s latest remarks come amid growing criticism from House prosecutors, including Manila’s Cong. Joel Chua, who said the controversy could have been resolved had the Vice President spoken earlier.
“Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ang sinasabi nilang ayaw ko sumagot. Ngayon, ayaw kong sumagot kasi nag-file na sila ng impeachment,” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview from The Hague.
“At sinabi ko, ‘Since nag-file kayo ng impeachment ay doon natin sagutin sa impeachment [trial],’” she added. “Para naman kasi akong tanga kung magsasalita ako about confidential funds ngayon na wala namang dahilan.”
The Vice President pointed out that she had already been present at congressional hearings, yet received no questions about the issue.
“Unang-una, nag-hearing, nandoon ako, walang kahit isang tanong. Kapag wala nang ibang venue, saka ako magsasalita. My explanations will be in my own time, hindi sa panahon kung kailan gusto ng mga members of the House of Representatives,” she said.
Last week, Duterte-Carpio addressed the issue publicly for the first time, defending the use of aliases as “common practice in intelligence operations.”
Lawmakers earlier flagged the supposed misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, citing names of recipients that reportedly resembled snack brands, mobile phones, and restaurants.
Duterte-Carpio, however, maintained that all concerns will be addressed in the proper forum.
“Let us wait for the trial,” she said, adding that an intelligence expert will testify on her behalf as a resource person./PN
