.. 
NI ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
KUMBINSIDO ang mga ranking officials ng Kamara na panlilinlang lamang ang mga binibitiwang pahayag at kinikilos ni Vice President Sara Duterte para matakpan at ibaling ang atensyon ng taumbayan sa usapin ng winaldas na P612.5-million confidential funds.
Sa magkahiwalay na pahayag, kinastigo nina House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chair Joel Chua, at House Quad Comm Lead Chair Robert Ace Barbers ang bise-presidente sa anila’y malinaw na insulto sa Kongreso at sambayanang Pilipino.
Ayon kay Dalipe, walang basehan ang mga akusasyon ni Duterte, kasabay ng giit na hindi angkop sa isang public official ang ipinamalas na asal ng pangalawang pangulo.
Paliwanag ng kongresista, bahagi ng mandato ng Kongreso ang pagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon upang mapanagot ang mga tinawag niyang abusadong opisyal ng gobyerno.
“This isn’t about elections, fundraising, or petty politics. It’s about where the millions if not billions of pesos in taxpayers’ money went. Instead of explaining, the Vice President resorts to profanity and baseless accusations. These tantrums won’t hide the truth,” wika ng House Majority Leader.
Ayon sa Zamboanga City solon, ang paulit-ulit na pagtanggi ni Duterte na makipagtulungan sa Kamara ay lalong nagpapalalim sa pagdududa ng publiko sa paraan ng paggastos ni Duterte sa pondo ng gobyerno.
“She can lash out all she wants, but the question remains: Where did the money go? Until she answers that, her expletives are just noise meant to distract from her glaring lack of transparency,” saad ni Dalipe.
Sa panig ni Chua, na siyang pangunahing target ng mga atake ni Duterte, sinabi niya na ang layunin ng bise presidente sa kanyang mga pahayag ay sindakin ang mga mambabatas upang manahimik.
“The Vice President’s foul language cannot cover up her foul record. Her decision to hurl insults instead of providing answers reeks of desperation. Profanity won’t erase the stench of corruption,” saad pa ni Chua.
Mariing itinanggi ng Manila lawmaker ang mga pahayag ni Duterte na may mga off-camera na paghingi ng tawad mula sa mga mambabatas.
“Let me be clear: No one in the House apologized to her, nor do we need to. If she truly has evidence, let her bring it forward. Otherwise, it’s just another pathetic attempt to discredit a legitimate investigation,” dagdag ni Chua.
Sa panig ni Barbers na tumatayong lead chair ng quad comm na inatasan magsagawa ng pagdinig sa extrajudicial killings na iniuugnay sa drug war ng nakalipas na administrasyon, hindi na bago ang taktika ni Duterte.
Aniya, hangad lang ng bise presidente isabotahe ang congressional probe at ilihis sa ibang usapin ang mga nabistong irregularidad.
“One of the campaign promise of the UNITEAM is to institute reforms in government and its systems in order to ensure transparency and accountability for any malfeasance committed in office whoever and whatever position you hold..all this investigations are necessary as a prelude to legislating reforms and guaranteeing accountability of public officers including members of Congress,” giit ni Barbers.
“Instead of facing the music, the Vice President has chosen to hide behind lies, theatrics, and name-calling. This is not the behavior of a leader—it’s the behavior of someone desperately dodging accountability,” sambit pa ng Mindanaoan lawmaker.
Pinabulaanan din ni Barbers ang pahayag ni Duterte na ang mga pagdinig ay dahil sa pulitika.
“This isn’t about 2028 or her presidential ambitions. It’s about ensuring that every peso of taxpayer money is used properly. If she can’t answer simple questions about how confidential funds were spent, the public has every right to question her integrity,” ayon pa kay Barbers.
Nanindigan si Barbers na hindi uurong ang Kamara. “This is not about her or her ambitions. It’s about the truth—and no amount of noise from the Vice President will stop us from uncovering it,” giit pa ng mambabatas.
