Sara Duterte refuses to take oath during House hearing

Vice President Sara Duterte refused to take an oath during a House hearing on Wednesday, prompting lawmakers to criticize her stance on transparency.

Lawmakers from the House committee on good government and public accountability stated that Duterte's refusal damages public perception of integrity in office, with representatives Jay Khonghun, Gerville Luistro, and Raoul Manuel expressing concerns about her commitment to accountability.

Khonghun stressed that taking an oath is a fundamental act of transparency and accountability for public officials, while Luistro emphasized the implications of Duterte's refusal to take the oath.

The Department of Budget and Management informed the House of Representatives that there was no confidential and intelligence fund item in the 2022 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) supporting Duterte's request for PHP125 million, which has been challenged before the Supreme Court.

COA reported numerous irregularities in the use of the CIF funds, with more than PHP73 million disallowed and Duterte and two other OVP officials potentially liable for these expenses.