Khonghun urges VP Sara to address corruption

House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun and other ranking congressmen urged Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, May 1, to address specific allegations against her instead of continuing to make sweeping claims about corruption in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Khonghun emphasized that Duterte's refusal to provide a detailed accounting of the P125 million spent from P612.5 million in confidential funds will not help her case during the upcoming Senate impeachment trial.

Zambales Rep. Jefferson F. Khonghun stated earlier that Duterte’s silence on the allegations would bolster the impeachment case against her, suggesting she remains quiet due to difficulty in explaining herself.

The congressmen noted there is no finding from the Commission on Audit (COA) or any independent agency implicating Speaker Martin Romualdez or the House of Representatives in corruption but pointed out that the allegations against Vice President are based on official COA findings and disbursement records.

House Deputy Speaker David 'Jay-Jay' Suarez and House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V urged Duterte to welcome the opportunity to respond to charges in the Senate rather than making accusations at others, stressing that accountability and transparency are essential aspects of true leadership.