Screengrab from Congress PH

The drama continues at the House of Representatives as the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability resumed its hearing on November 25, diving deeper into the controversial issue of alleged misuse of funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Vice President Sara Duterte herself made an appearance at the hearing, taking her oath as part of the ongoing investigation into how the budgets of her office and DepEd were being managed. But beyond the numbers, it’s clear that this session is about more than just finances—it's becoming an intense political showdown.

VP Duterte Breaks Silence on Chief of Staff’s Detention Ordeal

One of the key moments during the hearing was when VP Duterte spoke about her chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez. According to Duterte, Lopez had been severely traumatized by her detention experience—a statement that added a personal touch to an already highly charged situation. While the hearing was focused on budget allocations, the emotional weight of Lopez's ordeal brought a human element to the proceedings, highlighting the pressures and tensions behind the political headlines.

Security Tightens as VP Threatens Speaker Romualdez

As if the financial issues weren’t enough to stir up controversy, the political tension between Vice President Duterte and House Speaker Martin Romualdez added fuel to the fire. Reports surfaced that Duterte had made threats against Romualdez, escalating the security measures at Congress. The heightened atmosphere in the building signaled that things were getting more intense, with key figures in the government now facing off publicly.

House Secretary General Denies Allegations

The plot thickens as House Secretary General Reginald Velasco stepped up to defend Congress against the accusations coming from VP Duterte’s camp. Velasco firmly denied claims that Lopez’s detention was unjust and rejected the idea that she should have been transferred to another facility. In a media interview, he stressed that the allegations were baseless and reiterated that due process had been followed in Lopez’s case.

With heightened security, political threats, and unanswered questions about the use of public funds, it’s clear that this isn’t just another routine hearing. The drama unfolding in the House of Representatives is turning into a full-scale political battle—one that could reshape the relationships within the government for weeks, if not months, to come.