Solons on VP Sara saying she wants to prove proper fund use: Just do it

If Vice President Sara Duterte really wants to show evidence that her office did not misuse public funds, nothing is stopping her from doing so, two lawmakers said.

House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers and House Assistant Minority Leader Renee Co of Kabataan party-list made the response in light of the Vice President’s statement that she she would have wanted to present evidence to refute the allegations in the impeachment complaint filed against her.

“Pagkatapos lumabas yung decision ng Supreme Court, tapos nag-decision ng Senado na i-archive, biglang sabi niya, gustong gusto na raw niyang mailabas yung ebidensya ng prosecution at ebidensya ng defense. Sa totoo lang, wala namang pumipigil kay Vice President na ilabas na yung kanyang depensa. Whether sa press conference...pwede niyang ilabas ‘yan...and most definitely, dito sa Kongreso, lalo pa at parating na ang budget hearings," they said.

(After the SC decision and the Senate archiving the complaint, she suddenly wants to present evidence defending herself. Nobody is stopping her from doing so, whether in a press conference or during budget deliberations.)

“Tamang-tama ang venue. Makatitiyak siya na muli nating itatanong, dahil hindi pa rin nasasagot, ano ba talaga ang nangyari at paano ginastos ‘yung P 612.5 million total na confidential funds. So to the Vice President, eager na eager na po tayo na marinig yung sagot nyo at ipakita nyo ang inyong ebidensya,” Tinio added.

(Congress as a venue to show evidence could not be more fitting. Because she can count on us to ask her again, how did she use the P612.5 million in confidential funds? We are so eager to hear the evidence from the Vice President.)

Tinio said that without presenting evidence, the Vice President's words do not carry any weight.

“She is just posturing. What is stopping her to show her evidence. Ang mamamayang Pilipino, ilang taon nang naghihintay sa sagot. Simpleng tanong lang naman, ano ba ang ginawa niya sa P612.5 million na confidential funds? Kung may ebidensya siya, ilabas niya na,” he said.

(The Filipino people have been waiting for an answer. The question is simple: how did she spend the P612.5 million worth of confidential funds? If she has evidence, she better show it.)

Kabataan's Co, for her part, said the Vice President’s presence during the budget hearings will only count if she will address the allegations of misuse of public funds.

“The same things have been asked of her in the past two year. But instead of providing clear answers, she evades the question, if not skip the budget hearings,” she said.

“If she really wants to show evidence, then she should be present during budget hearings. To the Vice President: Be present. Kung naging DepEd Secretary siya, alam niya ‘yung importance ng pagiging present at school, present ng teachers and students,” Co added.

(As a former Education Secretary, she should know the importance of being present.) — BM, GMA Integrated News