Photo credit: Congress PH

Vice President Sara Duterte decided to skip the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s hearing on November 20, 2024, which was investigating the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). In her place, OVP Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez attended the session.

Instead of appearing in person, Vice President Duterte sent a letter explaining her decision. Addressed to the committee chairperson, Representative Joel R. Chua, she clarified that this was not the first time she had been invited to attend such a hearing. She mentioned that during a previous session on September 18, 2024, she had attended but was not asked a single question, which led her to request to be excused from the meeting.

Duterte respectfully informed the committee that she would not be attending the scheduled hearing on November 20 and requested that her letter be officially included in the committee's records.

Her letter read, in part:

_"I wish to clarify that prior to this recent invitation, I have only been invited once before, specifically to attend the 18 September 2024 Committee hearing. It may also be recalled that despite attending the hearing last 18 September 2024, I was not asked a single question, which then prompted my request to eventually be excused."_

Despite her absence, the hearing continued with Lopez representing the OVP, as the committee continues its investigation into the use of confidential funds.