Castro urges Vice President Duterte to focus on fund misuse probe after drug war hearing attendance

Vice President Sara Duterte attended a House hearing on the drug war, where her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was questioned about alleged extrajudicial killings. Lawmaker France Castro criticized her presence, suggesting she should focus on a separate investigation into her office's fund use. The House committee is examining allegations of fund misuse in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. The Commission on Audit flagged P73.2 million of the OVP's confidential funds for 2022, raising concerns about their legitimacy. Vice President Duterte has not attended subsequent hearings on the fund misuse allegations. Former Education Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado testified about potential influence from the Vice President regarding procurement processes, which Duterte dismissed as claims from a disgruntled employee.