In order to defend her detained chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, Vice President Sara Duterte came before the House committee on good administration and public accountability, taking her oath as a resource person.
At first, Duterte questioned if Lopez’s prolonged imprisonment was lawful, calling it “illegal.” However, before she could speak, committee chair Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua insisted that she take an oath promising to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Duterte obeyed, although he questioned the committee’s decision right away.
The Vice President questioned the authority behind the resignation approvals of Department of Education (DepEd) undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. She emphasized that these appointments and dismissals fall under the President of the Philippines, not the DepEd secretary. Her remarks left the panel visibly unsettled.
“Ask the appointing authority, the President, why he accepted the resignations,” Duterte said, criticizing the committee’s inquiry into due process. Chua attempted to defer the matter, stating it was not yet time for interpellation.
Duterte grew more assertive, accusing the committee of detaining Lopez without proper grounds. She demanded an explanation for the “illegal” detention and urged the committee to reconsider.
Rep. Romeo Acop suggested Duterte take the matter to court. Duterte agreed but expressed frustration over Lopez’s prolonged detention, saying, “Every day, you are depriving a person of her liberty.”
Chua clarified that Lopez’s detention was decided by the committee as a whole, not him personally. Duterte criticized the proceedings, calling them an embarrassment to the nation and questioning the integrity of the House of Representatives.
Earlier in the session, Chua accused Duterte and her office of using diversionary tactics to avoid addressing allegations, including the controversial P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and DepEd.
