House orders transfer of VP Duterte’s aide to women’s prison

Vice President Sara Duterte (right) and her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez (left)  —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Friday ordered the transfer of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez to the women’s prison in Mandaluyong City.

In a document sent by the OVP to reporters, House committee on good governance and public accountability chair Rep. Joel Chua ordered House Sergeant-At-Arms Napoleon Taas to transfer Lopez to the Women’s Correctional Facility.

This came after the committee held a special meeting on Friday, where its members unanimously approved the transfer of Lopez from the House of Representatives to the women’s prison.

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“You are hereby ordered to effect the transfer of Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez. from her detention in the House of Representative to the Women’s Correctional Facility, Mandaluyong City, immediately, so ordered,” the order read.

Prior to the order, Lopez was in the custody of the House’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms after being cited for contempt during a hearing on the alleged misuse of public funds with the OVP under Duterte.

Vice President Sara Duterte, meanwhile, also went to the House of Representatives announcing that she would be staying “indefinitely” in the office of her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, at the Batasang Pambasna Complex in Quezon City so she could visit Lopez.

Shortly after the transfer order was served, Lopez faced the media and Duterte supporters in a press conference via Zoom. She was accompanied by the vice president and her other staff during the online presser.

An emotional Lopez narrated that nine people showed up in her room around midnight to serve the order – which she refused to obey.

“I will not leave. I have my rights as a detainee in this facility. Respect that and then I told them to go out,” Lopez said, adding that she made sure to block the doors once House authorities left her detention room.

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The OVP chief of staff claimed threat to her life, questioning the middle-of-the-night serving of the transfer order – when there is no office business at the House of Representatives.

”They bring nine [to serve the order] in the middle of the night in your pajamas. This is a threat to my life. It’s not just harassment,” she said.

”…Wala nang batas sa bansang ito (There is no law in this country anymore),” she also said.

According to Lopez, she called Duterte after the transfer order was served – and the vice president acted as her lawyer during the episode.