Photo courtesy of Jay Khonghun Official Facebook Account
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The House of Representatives “Young Guns” accepted today, Oct. 22, Vice President Sara Duterte’s challenge for them to undergo tests for illegal drug substances as well as a psychiatric evaluation, with a condition that she would testify under oath before the House panel investigating the alleged misuse of funds in the Office of the VP.
Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun and House Assistant Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega, who belong to the said clique of young legislators in the HoR, earlier criticized what they described as “disturbing and childish” temper and arrogance displayed by VP Sara in her two-hour press conference last week where she said she wanted to cut off President Marcos’ head as well as exhume and throw the remains of his father into the West Philippine Sea.
“For someone in such a high position to make violent and grotesque threats, even in jest, shows a troubling level of instability,” Rep. Khonghun had said, noting that such remarks were “deeply alarming.”
“We cannot afford to have leaders who let their emotions spiral out of control in such a public and extreme manner,” he added.
Rep. Ortega, for his part, had said, “We urge the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to consider seeking professional help for Vice President Duterte, as this behavior is deeply concerning and could have serious consequences for our nation’s leadership,” adding, “The Filipino people deserve leaders who are mentally and emotionally stable, especially during challenging times.”
Several other lawmakers have been calling on VP Sara to address the core issue of how she spent the confidential funds allotted to her office.
VP Sara responded by daring the young lawmakers to undergo a drug test, saying that they were the “unstable” ones.
Rep. Khonghun responded, “We are more than willing to take the drug test and psychiatric exam, as the Vice President suggested, but we will not allow her to divert the real issue, which is the allegations of fund misuse and graft and corruption against her. She should be ready to face the House Blue Ribbon Committee and testify under oath.”
Rep. Ortega said, “We’re all public servants here, so let’s agree that anyone failing the drug or psychiatric test should face the consequences, and anyone found misusing public funds should also be held accountable. We’re ready to undergo these tests, but the Vice President should demonstrate her accountability by appearing before Congress to answer the allegations of fund misuse in her office.” (PIA DMD)
