Breaking the rules and traditions, Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday refused to take the oath, to tell the truth at the start of a House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing on the alleged misuse by her office of millions in funds for socio-economic programs.
Even the late former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Benigno Aquino III took their oath when invited as resource persons during a congressional inquiry.
Upon direction by committee chairman Manila Rep. Joel Chua, the committee secretary asked all the invited resource persons from the Office of the Vice President, Department of Budget and Management, and Commission on Audit to rise to be sworn to tell the truth to the panel on matters they would be asked about.
The oath is usually given to all those invited as resource persons and witnesses in congressional hearings.
It simply states: “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (in this inquiry)? So help you, God.”
Before the committee’s guests could take the oath, Duterte asked Chua if she, as a resource person, would be required to take the oath.
She invoked the committee’s rules on inquiries in aid of legislation under which she said only witnesses were given the oath.
Chua replied that it is the practice in House hearings that both witnesses are considered resource persons and asked to be sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.
Former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, an ally of the Dutertes, supported the Vice President’s stand on the issue.
The former president cited a Supreme Court ruling and a Senate precedent under which she said a witness is given more protection than a resource person since the former may find himself or herself as an accused.
However, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores informed Arroyo that no person invited to the hearing could be classified as an accused yet.
Chua then ruled that the former president’s remarks were noted.
The Manila lawmaker then asked Vice President Duterte to deliver her opening statement.
The Vice President claimed that the hearing was part of an orchestrated attack against her and that the real objective was to impeach her.
At the end of her remarks, she asked Chua to terminate the hearing on Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano’s September 3 privilege speech on supposedly questionable OVP expenses for its socio-economic programs in Metro Manila.
But the committee chairman told the Vice President he could not abruptly end the hearing because his panel had just decided to take cognizance of and jurisdiction over the Valeriano speech.
At one point, the Vice President requested a one-minute recess, during which she talked to Arroyo.
She shook hands with Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta before returning to her chair.
