By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
From the moment I heard the news of Vice President Sara Duterte camping out at The Batasan — the territory of her harshest critics — to stand by her detained chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, I knew trouble was brewing.
Reviewing the optics of Inday’s actions, her die-hard supporters would no doubt frame this as a courageous act by their Davao-bred heroine: a touching show of solidarity, a bold statement of loyalty!
But there is a growing number of skeptics — many among who might have admired her enough to elect her to the second-highest office of the land, but now find themselves disappointed — questioning her leadership of the OVP and the Department of Education over the last two years.
The allegations surrounding her use of confidential funds — particularly the staggering P125 million spent in just 11 days — cast long shadows over her formidable political persona.
While there’s much to dislike about suspicious and potentially malicious designs of the leadership of the House — especially under a very ambitious presidential cousin in Rep. Martin Romualdez — the base argument put forward by his minions and the Progressive members in the House is soundly rooted on accountability and discipline in the handling of people’s money.
Why does VP Sara choose to continue dodging this pressing question? Why let her officials take the heat instead of addressing Congress directly in the earlier hearings?
Because of this, her determination to hold vigil with detained Lopez invites pointed speculation. Critics suggest this isn’t just about solidarity — it’s about control.
After all, the memory of Royina Garma flipping on her father still lingers. Once a loyal ally, Garma didn’t hesitate to expose alleged reward systems for police involved in “nanlaban” killings under Duterte’s war on drugs.
Could Inday Sara’s overnight stay signal a fear that Lopez, under House scrutiny, might follow Garma’s path and spill the beans on her?
After her vigil, Sara fought tooth and nail to have Lopez transferred to a private hospital, rather than the Women’s Correctional — again, a bold stand to protect her own amid the committee’s highly questionable order.
But things turned way dark during her live online address with reporters as she threatened to have President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta, and Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if anything happened to her.
This unhinged outburst has rattled the nation, raising questions not only about Inday Sara’s state of mind but also her motives. What’s troubling is that her attack on her erstwhile allies reeks of a scorched-earth approach that the interest of the general public completely swept aside.
Whether it be borne out of loyalty, despair, or paranoia, the Vice President’s far-out actions and “revelations” must not shift focus from the pressing need for her to answer the fundamental question in this whole affair: where did the people’s money go?
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