The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for allegedly obstructing the lawful transfer of her chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. The panel warned on Saturday that Duterte’s actions set a “dangerous precedent” for abuse of power.
House Committee Statement
In its statement, the committee, chaired by Manila City Representative Joel Chua, accused Duterte of physically and legally intervening to block Lopez’s transfer order.
“This act of interference demonstrates a blatant disregard for institutional authority and due process, setting a dangerous precedent for abuse of power,” the committee said.
Duterte allegedly assumed the role of Lopez’s legal counsel and physically prevented House security personnel from carrying out the order.
Emergency Meeting and Security Concerns
The decision to transfer Lopez was made during an emergency Zoom meeting on Friday night after the committee received “red flags” regarding Lopez’s detention. The panel cited concerns about Duterte’s presence in the House complex and its potential impact on security.
“Ang isa nga po sa mga napag-usapan ay ‘yung security risk, hindi lamang po ng ating House of Representatives pati na rin po ng ating Vice President,” Chua said.
Disruptions at the House Complex
The House panel detailed a series of actions taken by Duterte, which it claimed disrupted House operations:
- Assuming Legal Counsel Role: Duterte allegedly posed as Lopez’s lawyer to impede the transfer order.
- Physical Intervention: Duterte reportedly prevented security personnel from executing the directive.
- Security Compromises: Duterte’s presence, accompanied by an “excessive and unauthorized armed contingent,” allegedly strained resources and disrupted safety protocols.
- Locked Office Incident: Duterte reportedly locked herself in Representative Paolo Duterte’s office, prompting a lockdown of the House premises.
Retired Police Major General Napoleon Taas, House Sergeant-at-Arms, stated that these actions caused significant strain on security personnel and resources.
Duterte’s Response
Duterte described the transfer order for Lopez as an “attempted homicide” and expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from police personnel when Lopez fell ill during the commotion.
The Vice President also questioned the timing and validity of the committee order, noting it was issued late on a Friday evening without the Speaker’s permission.
Contempt and Confidential Funds Probe
Lopez was cited in contempt after admitting she signed a letter instructing state auditors to disregard a House subpoena for audit reports on the confidential funds used by the OVP and the Department of Education in 2022 and 2023.
Duterte maintains that she has not misused public funds, accusing the ongoing probe of being a political maneuver aimed at building an impeachment case against her.
House Panel’s Warning
The House committee emphasized the need to uphold institutional processes, cautioning that Duterte’s actions undermine the authority of Congress and threaten democratic stability.