Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday rejected newly filed plunder and graft complaints against her and several officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), describing the cases as “another fishing expedition” aimed at justifying an investigation and diverting attention from alleged corruption elsewhere in government.
Duterte said the complaints involve transactions and programs implemented during her tenure at the OVP and DepEd and named both current and former officials as respondents.
She asserted that the filings are intended to create a pretext for further inquiries into her offices and to conceal alleged corruption in other areas of government.
The vice president maintained that all programs and transactions under her leadership complied with existing laws, rules, and regulations. She said she and the officials named in the complaints are ready to respond before the appropriate legal forums and are coordinating with legal advisers on the proper course of action.
Duterte emphasized that the complaints will not disrupt the delivery of services at the OVP and DepEd and that existing programs will continue while the cases proceed through legal channels. She called on supporters and the public to remain calm and said she would provide updates as more information about the investigations becomes available.