House panel cancels hearing to let VP Sara face NBI subpoena

A HOUSE of Representatives committee investigating Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio’s secret fund spending has canceled its Friday hearing to let her face authorities looking into her alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday subpoenaed Ms. Carpio for her assassination remarks against Mr. Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker in the event she herself was killed.

On Wednesday, she asked the NBI to reschedule their hearing so she could attend the House good government and public accountability’s inquiry into her alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential and intelligence funds under her office in 2022 and the Education department in 2023, when she sat as its secretary.

“There were many members who called me regarding this matter, which is why we decided earlier to postpone the committee hearing scheduled for tomorrow to give way to the NBI’s investigation,” Manila Rep. Joel R. Chua, who heads the House good government panel, said in a media briefing in Filipino.

“This is so that we would not be used as an excuse to avoid addressing the complaint,” he added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio