Solon to Sara Duterte: Silence on secret funds will cause more problems

MANILA, Philippines —A lawmaker on Sunday warned Vice President Sara Duterte that her continued refusal to explain the alleged misuse of confidential funds would bury her deeper in her impending impeachment trial at the Senate.

The Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, previously led by Duterte, are facing issues related to alleged fake recipients of confidential funds.

READ: OVP fund recipients have names resembling groceries: Harina, Bacon

In a press release, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union told Duterte in Filipino: “If you can’t explain now who the fake and ridiculous names are — like Mary Grace Piattos, Jay Kamote, Pampano, and all the others listed under your confidential funds — how much more during an impeachment trial? You’ll just get into deeper trouble.”

“What have you really contributed to the country as vice president? Instead of helping, it seems like all you've brought are chaos and evasion,” he added.

READ: VP Sara Duterte told: Explain odd names on DepEd secret fund receipts

Ortega further said that a true leader should know how to face and explain herself to the public.

“The issues against her are based on documents and evidence released by the Commission on Audit (CoA) itself. She can’t keep avoiding them and blaming others. The issues are real, not fabricated, and there’s no politics involved,” Ortega said.

Duterte’s impeachment trial is set for July, after the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

She was first impeached in the lower house of Congress in February, when 215 members of the 306-seat House of Representatives voted to remove her from office for “violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.”

Speak up on West Philippine Sea issues

Aside from confidential funds, Duterte and her allies were also urged to break their silence regarding issues on incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a separate statement, Rep. Jay Khonghun, chair of the House special committee on bases conversion, questioned how Duterte was vocal on other issues but not on the territory.

“When it’s a different issue, the VP, her candidates, and allies are loud. But when China is the adversary, they suddenly disappear. It’s as if their resolve vanishes too. They should use their boldness against China’s bullying. We should be pro-Philippines, and our courage shouldn't be selective,” Khonghun said in Filipino.

“I hope you're also combative when it comes to the issue with China. When our sovereignty is under attack, I hope you speak up too. You should fight for the country. You should fight for the Filipino people,” he added.

He also cited a recent SWS survey showing that 75 percent of Filipinos prefer candidates who will assert Philippine rights in the WPS.

“The message from the people is very clear: They want leaders who are not afraid of China. So if Vice President Duterte continues to remain silent, she should be asked where her loyalty lies — with the nation or with another country?” Khonghun said.

China Central Television recently claimed that the Chinese Coast Guard “implemented maritime control” over Sandy Cay, a sandbar located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, in mid-April.

But this was belied by Philippine authorities.

(2025/05/04-15:33)