By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

After breaching security protocols during her visit to the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 21), Vice President Sara Duterte is under fire after she insisted on staying overnight to accompany her chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, who was detained for “undue interference” in the investigation into Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

Chair of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua criticized VP Sara’s actions, calling it 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 aksiyon. Dapat ito ay tinitingnan natin kasi it will show our character, nagre-reflect ’yong character natin sa ating mga aksiyon,” Chua told a press conference. 

He called on Duterte to reflect on her actions and their impact on the House as an institution, emphasizing the motto “Respect begets respect” and insisting that adherence to rules ensures fairness and security for all.

The Quad-Comm chair, joined by House Sergeant-at-Arms retired PMGEN. Napoleon Taas, held a press conference to detail the Vice President’s visit, which they said breached House protocols and placed undue strain on resources.

The security breach began on Thursday afternoon when the Vice President’s advance party arrived at 2 p.m, followed by the arrival of Duterte herself at 7:45 p.m., meeting Lopez at the Visitor’s Center near the South Gate. House officials accommodated her visit, adhering to standard guidelines.

“At about 10 o’clock, the Vice President together with Usec. Lopez actually prepared to leave the premises of the Visitor’s Center, as we have requested,” Taas recounted. “The Vice President, at about 10:05, also rode her convoy… we assumed she would exit the House of Representatives.”

Instead, the Vice President proceeded to Room 304 in the office of her brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte; and despite appeals from House officials, including Taas himself, the Vice President and her security team stayed in the office until early Friday morning, violating House rules.

“By 11:30 p.m., I personally appealed to the protocol and security of the Vice President at Room 304 if they could possibly leave the premises, as there’s always a practice during long weekends that we turn off power in all our buildings,” Taas explained.

The Vice President’s team remained locked in the office past midnight, prompting concerns over security risks and operational disruptions.

Chua emphasized that the Vice President’s actions demonstrated a disregard for the rules and the institution itself.

“So [u]ulitin ko ang pakiusap ko na ang ating mga empleyado dito—kasama na dito ang ating Sergeant-at-Arms—ay ginagawa lang po nila ang kanilang tungkulin at trabaho. Sana po sumunod po tayo sa mga patakaran dahil ito po ay pagpapakita lamang ng respeto sa institusyon,” Chua said.

Quad-Comm chair still fuming over VP Sara’s persistent disobedience

Chua also criticized Duterte’s selective compliance with institutional processes, noting her refusal to attend his committee’s hearing while spending long hours at the recent House Quad-Committee hearing to accompany her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, during the investigation into extrajudicial killings linked to his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

“Nakikita naman po natin parang kung kailan lang niya gusto, kung ano lang ang gusto niya, ’yon lang ang gagawin niya,” Chua said, pointing to the Vice President’s refusal to leave the premises when instructed.

The Vice President justified her prolonged stay by citing humanitarian reasons, including Lopez’s safety as well as Duterte’s own migraines, jetlag, and emotional stress. However, Chua and Taas dismissed these reasons as insufficient to warrant bypassing House protocols.

“Hindi po namin ma-allow siya dahil unang-una hindi naman po siya detainee,” Chua explained.

“Pangalawa, high-profile po siya, baka po may mangyari po diyan eh kawawa naman po ang ating mga empleyado rito. Alam naman po natin security risk po ’yan, pangalawang pangulo po ’yan,” he added.

Chua warned that granting special privileges to Duterte would create a perception of favoritism, stressing that no one should be above the law, not even the government’s second highest appointed official.

Likewise, the Quad-Comm chair dismissed Duterte’s persistent claims of political persecution, calling them “baseless” and lacking merit. He reiterated that the ongoing investigation by his panel, the House Blue Ribbon Committee, is focused solely on accountability and the proper use of public funds.

“Ito pong ginagawa namin, trabaho namin ito. Meron pong ni-refer sa ating committee, ito ay inaksiyunan natin. At ang pinag-uusapan po natin dito ay pera ng bayan,” Chua said. 

“So wala naman akong nakikita dito na politika. Ang nakikita ko po rito ay may [perang] nawawala, may kwestiyonable po na transaksyon,” he added. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)

-iro