QUEZON CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – Vice President Sara Duterte explained why she took the oath at the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing on Monday morning.

Before today, Duterte only appeared once in the seven hearings of the committee.

The House panel has been looking into the use of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, which was headed by her.

"For the sake of the personnel of the Office of the Vice President. Clearly sinasabi ni Joel Chua na we will not recognize you without an oath. I cannot… I continuing to question the constitutionality of their rules. Pero I cannot help the personnel of the Office of the Vice President if I have no personality to speak in that hearing," she told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

When she appeared in the September 18 hearing, Duterte said that she refused to take her oath because "only witnesses take an oath."

During the hearing, the Vice President also asked the committee to reconsider its decision to extend Lopez’s detention, saying it is “illegal." But Chua told Duterte to respect the panel’s decision, and advised her to raise her question before a court.

The Vice President eventually left the hearing early, after asking House panel chairperson Manila Rep. Joel Chua that she be allowed to leave.

No lawmaker was able to directly question Duterte before she exited the hearing.

'WALANG KAKAMPI'

Four OVP officials, who were previously cited in contempt by the House panel for repeatedly skipping its hearings, also attended Monday’s hearing.

They are OVP Assistant Chief of Staff and Bids and Awards Chairperson Atty. Lemuel Ortonio, OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, former DepEd Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda, and Former DepEd Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda.

Duterte questioned the House panel’s procedures, after a lawmaker asked Fajarda about the liquidation report for DepEd’s 2023 confidential expenses without showing the document in question first.

“Mr. Chair, wala kaming kakampi rito, walang maka-point of order para sa amin. How can you ask a resource person without giving him copies” she said.

“Why is it that the Vice President is butting in? Hindi po dapat ganoon,” House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro pointed out.

“Wala kaming kakampi rito, ma’am! Walang maka-point of order,” Duterte repeated.

Eventually, a 1-minute recess was declared as Duterte and Castro engaged in a heated exchange.

While the hearing was suspended, Duterte stood from her seat and went to the House Committee Chairperson to assert her point.

Chua gestured for Duterte to return to her seat but was heard saying “Huwag mo akong i-please please.”

“Hindi kami maka-point of order, Mr. Chair. Wala kaming kakampi,” she repeated, and then returned to her seat. A copy of the liquidation report in question was later flashed on the screen.