Vice President Sara Duterte accompanies her Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez and they leave St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City on Saturday, November 23, 2024. (INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) is considering the filing of charges against Vice President Sara Duterte and her staff for “resistance and disobedience to a person in authority,” PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil announced on Wednesday morning.
In a statement, PNP said it may invoke Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, “along with other criminal and administrative offenses” against the vice president, her aides and security personnel for the developments over the weekend.
The police is particularly zeroing in on a hospital incident as Duterte’s Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez was being transferred.
“The rule of law is fundamental to our democratic system. No one, regardless of their position, should be above accountability,” Marbil said.
“The PNP remains committed to ensuring the proper execution of lawful orders and protecting public order,” he noted.
He said he asked Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner for the names of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) who assisted in moving Lopez from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) to the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC).
The police chief claimed a video showed that VPSPG head Col. Raymund Lachica physically assaulted the PNP doctor-in-charge during the transfer from VMMC to SLMC.
Marbil said this action “could lead to a direct assault complaint.”
Lopez fell ill Saturday early morning, after the House ordered to transfer her from its custodial facility at the Batasang Pambansa Complex to the Correctional Institution for Women.
READ: Sara Duterte’s chief of staff falls ill, rushed to hospital
Lopez was rushed to VMMC, then transferred to SLMC.
Then, she was brought back to Veterans after being cleared by physicians on Saturday afternoon.
Lopez was initially ordered detained by the House for five days starting November 20.
READ: House panel moves to cite OVP exec Lopez for contempt
She was cited for contempt for reported undue interference in the chamber’s investigation into the budget use of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s stint as its education secretary.
The transfer order came following a visit from the vice president Thursday late night, defying congressional leaders’ requests for her to leave the complex.
Duterte declared that she would stay “indefinitely” in the office of her brother Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte.
READ: House orders transfer of VP Duterte’s aide to women’s prison
The PNP’s Wednesday statement said, “Reports indicate that actions taken may have interfered with the lawful detention order issued by the House of Representatives, as well as disrupted operations at both the detention center and VMMC.”
Marbil added that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was “reviewing the applicability of charges under existing laws.”
The police chief said, “We call upon everyone to respect legal processes and cooperate with authorities.”
“As public servants, it is our duty to uphold the law and set an example. Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority not only violates the law but also undermines public trust,” he added.
Last Saturday, Marbil ordered the CIDG to investigate remarks made by Duterte in which she said she instructed a person to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she would get killed.
READ: PNP to investigate VP Duterte’s ‘murder threat’ vs Marcos
The vice president made the remarks in a virtual press conference Saturday early morning.
Duterte said, “May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez.’ No joke, no joke. Nagbilin na ako.”
(I already talked with a person. I told the person, ‘If they kill me, kill Bongbong Marcos, Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez.’ No joke, no joke. I’ve left instructions.)
READ: Sara Duterte’s kill remark vs Marcos is ‘active threat’ – Palace
Malacañang responded Saturday morning, saying Duterte’s remarks were an “active threat” and that Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin already referred the matter to the Presidential Security Command.
READ: PSC beefs up security for Marcos amid VP’s death threat
The vice president was once Marcos’ ally during the 2022 national elections under their UniTeam political coalition.