HOUSE Special Committee on Bases Conversion Chairman Jay Khonghun on Friday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for reviving allegations of corruption in the passage of the 2025 national budget, calling it a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from her upcoming Senate impeachment trial.
“Tama na ang diversion. Hindi na makakaiwas si VP sa pagsagot sa impeachment charges. Malapit na ang kanyang Senate trial,” Khonghun said.
Khonghun said the Vice President should instead answer the accusations against her, including the alleged misuse of more than P600 million in confidential and intelligence funds received by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was education secretary.
He said the House prosecution panel possesses strong evidence to prove such misuse.
Khonghun said another impeachment charge on which there is unassailable proof is the now famous online assassination threat made by the Vice President against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
“Our prosecutors are confident that they can convince senator-judges to convict VP Duterte on the strength alone of these two charges,” Khonghun added.
Based on the schedule released earlier by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, VP Duterte’s trial will start on July 30, two days after the convening of the incoming 20th Congress.
Khonghun also said by reviving corruption claims in the approval of this year’s budget, the Vice President “is showing her disrespect for the Supreme Court (SC) and the judicial process.”
“This matter has been brought to the Supreme Court by concerned citizens. In fact, the respondents have been required to comment on their petitions. So, let’s just await the decision of the high court. Let us not jump the gun on the tribunal,” Khonghun said.
