Vice President Sara Duterte is accusing Speaker Martin Romualdez and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos of conspiring to politicize the controversy over the supposed fund irregularities in her office.

In a press conference in Bacolod City on Monday (November 11), Duterte insisted that the House of Representatives’ investigation of her office is part of the scheme to discredit her.

“Yes, it’s politically motivated na dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang ikinagalit ni LIza Marcos sa akin, sabi niya iyong tumawa ko pagsabi ni FPRRD (former President Rodrigo Duterte) na bangag si President - wala na tayong magawa diyan. That’s her personal take,” Duterte said.

“Sa simula pa lamang nagsabi na ako na hearings at the House of Representatives are politically motivated,” she stated.

The vice president noted that the scrutiny her office has been receiving started after Romualdez and members of the Makabayan bloc met. This started the intensified attacks against her and her office, with Makabayan leader and Gabriela Partylist Rep. France Castro hinting a push for her impeachment.

While Romualdez denied any political motive in the Lower House decision to slash the 2025 OVP budget by 60 percent, Duterte said this is part of the political agenda against her office.

Duterte accused Romualdez of eyeing the 2028 presidency but is aware of her unpopularity among the Filipinos.

Thus, the House leader will make another push for Charter change that will introduce parliamentary governance and make him the prime minister.

“Si Martin alam ko he really wants to run for president,” Duterte said.

On the questionable expenditures of the OVP, she insisted compliance to the Commission on Audit’s Audit Order Memorandum (AOM).

“Ang problema sa kanila wala talaga silang evidence of wrongdoing that is why pinipilit nila na maghanap ng katiwalian na hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nila nakukuha. Sinisira lang nila ng sinisira iyung dignity ng institution ng OVP and of course, iyong mga pangalan ng mga ordinary employees,” she said.

Duterte called the press conference shortly after four senior members of her staff were cited for contempt by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability for their continued failure to appear for the hearing on OVP fund utilization.

According to her the employees cited in contempt were occupied with preparations for the upcoming activities of her office, particularly the OVP’s 89th Anniversary on November 15.