By Filane Mikee Cervantes
MANILA – Leaders of the House of Representatives on Friday sounded the alarm over what they described as a breach of security after Vice President Sara Duterte remained at the Batasang Pambansa complex overnight on Thursday and refused to leave despite repeated requests.
In a joint statement, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe and Deputy Speaker David Suarez said Duterte stayed beyond official visiting hours following her visit to Office of the Vice President (OVP) Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, who is currently detained at the complex.
“Binuksan namin ang pinto ng malasakit para sa kanya, binigyan siya ng espesyal na pahintulot na bisitahin si Atty. Zuleika Lopez (We opened the door of compassion for her and gave her special permission to visit Atty. Zuleika Lopez),” the House leaders said.
“Pero pagkatapos ng oras ng pagbisita na natapos nang 10:00 ng gabi, hindi siya umalis (After the visiting hours ended at 10 p.m., she did not leave),” they said.
According to House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas, Duterte arrived at the complex at 7:40 p.m. and was allowed to stay with Lopez until the final cutoff time at 10 p.m.
However, instead of leaving, the Vice President reportedly proceeded to the office of her brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, and stayed there overnight despite multiple appeals from Taas to leave the House premises.
This prompted the House leadership to impose a “lockdown” as a precautionary security measure.
The House leaders emphasized the importance of adhering to security protocols, regardless of rank or position.
“Gusto naming ipaalala sa lahat, lalo na sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno, na may mga patakaran at protokol kaming sinusunod sa Malaking Kapulungan para tiyakin ang seguridad at kaayusan (We would like to remind everyone, especially government officials, that we have policies and protocols that we follow in the Bigger Chamber to ensure security and order),” they said.
“Hindi ito basta-basta nilalabag, kahit sino pa ang tao. Kapag hindi nasunod ang mga ito, para na rin nating sinira ang respeto sa institusyon na nagsisilbi sa taumbayan (These rules cannot simply be violated, no matter who you are. If these are not followed, it’s as if we have also destroyed the respect for the institution that serves the people),” they added.
They said the House of Representatives serves the Filipino people and must not be treated as a private space for personal use.
“Hindi ito lugar para abusuhin o gawing personal na espasyo, kahit pa sino ka. Kung walang respeto sa mga simpleng patakaran, paano tayo magtitiwala na kaya nilang igalang ang mas malalaking responsibilidad na iniatang ng taongbayan sa kanila? (This is not a place to be abused or turned into a personal space, no matter who you are. If there is no respect for simple rules, how can we trust that they can honor the greater responsibilities entrusted to them by the people?),” they said.
The House leaders pledged to strengthen its security measures to prevent similar incidents.
“Sisiguraduhin namin na hindi na mauulit ang ganitong insidente (We will ensure that such incidents do not happen again),” they said.
Duterte plea rejected
House Good Government and Public Accountability Committee Chair Joel Chua, meanwhile, disclosed in a press conference that the panel rejected Duterte’s request to join Lopez in detention until Nov. 25.
“Hindi naman po natin papayagan kasi hindi naman po siya detainee (We will not allow her [to stay in the detention premises] because she is not a detainee),” Chua said.
Chua further said that given Duterte’s “high-profile” status as Vice President, ensuring her security within the complex required considerable resources.
“I do not know if we have enough security dito para mabantayan ang pangalawang pangulo (to protect the Vice President),” Chua said.
In her initial letter, Duterte appealed to Chua on humanitarian grounds, citing Lopez’s health and well-being.
“For humanitarian reasons, I request for consideration of her situation,” Duterte wrote, listing six circumstances, including Lopez’s chronic back problems, nausea and fears for her safety.
Duterte further claimed, “She has requested me to join her so she may have peace of mind and get adequate rest.”
Chua, however, rejected the request, citing the strict guidelines of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Chua also criticized Duterte’s actions as a “lack of respect for the institution” and its employees, urging her to adhere to established protocols.
“Para sa akin lang, kasi opisyal tayo, dapat careful tayo sa ating mga aksyon. Dapat ito ay tinitignan natin kasi it will show our character, nagre-reflect ‘yung character natin sa ating mga aksyon (For me, since we are officials, we should be careful with our actions. We should look into this because it will show our character; our character is reflected in our actions),” Chua said.
On Wednesday, the House Good Government and Public Accountability cited Lopez for contempt over her “undue interference” in the panel’s proceedings investigating the OVP’s use of confidential funds.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, who moved to cite Lopez for contempt, cited the letter sent by the OVP to the Commission on Audit, requesting the commission to disregard a congressional subpoena for audit reports on the office’s confidential expenses in 2022 and 2023.
The OVP’s Aug. 21 letter said the subpoena should not be complied with, citing reasons such as a potential violation of the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
Castro pointed out that Lopez signed the letter, violating House rules on undue interference in the conduct of proceedings.
Lopez, meanwhile, said the letter was not intended to undermine Congress.
“The premise is that hindi pa po final ‘yung findings ng audit investigation (findings of the audit investigation are not yet final), so we feel that it was not the right time to release it. It was inconclusive,” Lopez told the panel.
Lopez appealed for the contempt order to be lifted, maintaining that it was just a “respectful request” to the COA.
However, the panel ruled that Lopez be detained for five days, or until the committee’s next hearing on Nov. 25. (PNA)
