Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Office of The Vice President in Mandaluyong City on December 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- A leader from the House of Representatives said on Monday that Vice President Sara Duterte should first answer the allegations against the Department of Education and the Office of the Vice President's use of confidential funds instead of reviving other issues.

House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V on Monday reacted to the statement of Duterte alleging the lower house used and divided among them the budget of the Department of Education.

Duterte also claimed there is no bicameral conference committee to discuss the budget, and that only House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Rep. Zaldy Co made the decision.

In an online interview with reporters, the lawmaker said the allegations are a rehash and have been answered by House leaders in the past.

"Nauna nga 'yung mga tanong saka yung mga queries natin tungkol sa DepEd dati no saka sa OVP. Sabi ko nga, nasagot na 'yan, mga 'yan dati. May statements din po diyan. Siguro mas mainam, mauna nilang masagot 'yung tanong tungkol sa sarili nilang budget. Kasi sa House naman wala namang irregularities sa budget namin. At may bicam naman na nagkikita-kita lahat at nag-uusap usap lahat," he said. 

While he is not a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, Ortega said Duterte's remarks are an attempt to deflect from the issues against her.

"Sabi ko nga, yun yung naratibo nila kasi ililihis parin nila. Sabi ko nga 'yun 'yung hindi nila masagot-sagot na tanong. On the part of the House, we've answered everything. 'Yung mga chair po natin, nag sagot na. 'Yung mga members po ng Appro, sumagot na. Hindi pa rin po nila masagot 'yung Mary Grace Piattos issue. So babalik lang po din," he said. 

"Siyempre part po 'yan ng naratibo nila 'yun eh. Siguro wala pa po silang masyadong ginagawa doon, so marami po silang time mag-rally, marami silang time mag-pinic doon sa gathering areas. Expected na po 'yun na ganun 'yung mga ibabato nila," Ortega added.

Ortega previously revealed a new set of names of supposedly questionable recipients of confidential funds from the vice president's office, including a group he called "Team Amoy Asim."

Other names appeared to be derived from food, including "Jay Kamote" and "Miggy Mango."

READ: ‘Jay Kamote’, ‘Miggy Mango’ found on OVP confidential fund receipts, says lawmaker

READ: ‘Amuy’, ‘De Asim’ join ‘growing’ list of dubious confidential fund recipients — lawmaker

The lawmaker also said he was not surprised with Duterte's remarks, which are similar to her previous statements when asked about confidential funds.

"Definitely ganun naman from the start. Sa budget hearings, sa budget briefings, iba po 'yung sagot kada issue. Kada issue usually personal attacks, 'yung mga sagot na parang wala naman pong basehan. Ganun po usually 'yung laro nila eh," Ortega said.

"So tayo naman po nagi-stick lang po tayo kung saan may ebidensya, kung saan may nagawa na pong hearing, kung saan may gathering po ng… Hindi lang po evidences, pero may affidavit po sa testimonials. So klaro po doon lang tayo nag-babase, hindi lang bugso ng damdamin, hindi po kahit ano lang naibato o maisagot basta mailihis lang po sa tinatanong natin sa tamang sagot na inaantay natin," he explained.

ABS-CBN News has reached out to Romualdez and Co for statements.

Co previously denied Duterte's allegations, reiterating that the House has over 300 members and the Senate scrutinizes the budget proposal annually.

Meanwhile, Ortega also reacted to the Vice President's warning that her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte may face the same fate as democracy icon Ninoy Aquino, who was assassinated in 1983 upon his return to the Philippines.

"Well, I guess ang makakapagpatunay po niyan yung mga naka experience at saka may firsthand na naranasan po kung paano po sila. Para po sa akin, pulitika na po yan. Pulitiko po yung statement na yun. It's just politics. At alam natin pong walang katotohanan mangyari sa kanila yun," Ortega said. 

READ: Too ‘farfetched’ to compare Duterte to Ninoy Aquino, Malacanang says