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Inside The Controversy: The VP's Late-Night Visit And What Happened At The House Of Representatives
PRESS CONFERENCE (NOVEMBER 22, 2024). Screengrab from Congress PH
On Friday, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua, who serves as Chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, and House Sergeant-at-Arms PMGen Napoleon Taas held a press conference to address the recent controversy surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged overnight stay at the House of Representatives (HOR) compound. The visit was to meet with her detained chief-of-staff, Zuleika Lopez, who is being held for contempt due to "undue interference" during a committee investigation into the Vice President's confidential funds.
The situation started unfolding on the afternoon of November 21, 2024, when the Vice President's advance party arrived at the HOR complex. After the Vice President's security team coordinated with the House security, there was a delay in her arrival—she was expected around 4:00 pm but didn't actually show up until 7:45 pm, almost three hours later. Upon her arrival, VP Duterte was escorted to the Visitors' Center, where she met with Usec. Lopez.
The meeting lasted until around 10:00 pm, the latest allowed per the HOR's house rules for visitors. However, things took an unexpected turn when, after Lopez began returning to the detention center, the Vice President’s convoy did not exit as expected. Instead, it headed towards the South Wing Annex, where she stayed for about an hour, much longer than the usual visiting hours. House officials, including Sergeant-at-Arms PMGen Napoleon Taas, tried to manage the situation, even appealing to the Vice President's team to leave the premises by 11:30 pm.
Despite repeated requests, the VP and her security remained locked inside Room 304 until the next morning.
As Taas explained during the press conference, the Vice President's security team stayed inside Room 304 overnight, and power had to be turned back on the next morning for them to continue working. It wasn’t until around 10:53 am on November 22, 2024, that the Vice President, accompanied by her entourage, finally left Room 304 and returned to the detention facility at 11:07 am.
The controversy stems from the requests made by Vice President Duterte’s office. Chua clarified that while a letter from the Vice President requested for Usec. Lopez to stay with her during her detention, this request was denied. They also received another request from Congressman Pulong Duterte, asking if Lopez could be housed in his office instead of the detention facility. This, too, was rejected, with Chua explaining that allowing such a precedent could set a troubling example.
However, Chua did mention that the committee approved five other requests from Lopez while in detention, including daily visits from her physician, allowing her to attend therapy sessions, and granting security from the House of Representatives for her protection. Additionally, Lopez will be allowed to meet with her staff and counsel on November 24 to prepare for an inquiry regarding the use of the OVP’s and DepEd’s budget.
As the situation develops, the political implications of these events and the decisions made by the House will continue to capture attention, as they raise questions about protocol, security, and the treatment of individuals detained within the complex.
The situation started unfolding on the afternoon of November 21, 2024, when the Vice President's advance party arrived at the HOR complex. After the Vice President's security team coordinated with the House security, there was a delay in her arrival—she was expected around 4:00 pm but didn't actually show up until 7:45 pm, almost three hours later. Upon her arrival, VP Duterte was escorted to the Visitors' Center, where she met with Usec. Lopez.
The meeting lasted until around 10:00 pm, the latest allowed per the HOR's house rules for visitors. However, things took an unexpected turn when, after Lopez began returning to the detention center, the Vice President’s convoy did not exit as expected. Instead, it headed towards the South Wing Annex, where she stayed for about an hour, much longer than the usual visiting hours. House officials, including Sergeant-at-Arms PMGen Napoleon Taas, tried to manage the situation, even appealing to the Vice President's team to leave the premises by 11:30 pm.
Despite repeated requests, the VP and her security remained locked inside Room 304 until the next morning.
As Taas explained during the press conference, the Vice President's security team stayed inside Room 304 overnight, and power had to be turned back on the next morning for them to continue working. It wasn’t until around 10:53 am on November 22, 2024, that the Vice President, accompanied by her entourage, finally left Room 304 and returned to the detention facility at 11:07 am.
The controversy stems from the requests made by Vice President Duterte’s office. Chua clarified that while a letter from the Vice President requested for Usec. Lopez to stay with her during her detention, this request was denied. They also received another request from Congressman Pulong Duterte, asking if Lopez could be housed in his office instead of the detention facility. This, too, was rejected, with Chua explaining that allowing such a precedent could set a troubling example.
However, Chua did mention that the committee approved five other requests from Lopez while in detention, including daily visits from her physician, allowing her to attend therapy sessions, and granting security from the House of Representatives for her protection. Additionally, Lopez will be allowed to meet with her staff and counsel on November 24 to prepare for an inquiry regarding the use of the OVP’s and DepEd’s budget.
As the situation develops, the political implications of these events and the decisions made by the House will continue to capture attention, as they raise questions about protocol, security, and the treatment of individuals detained within the complex.
Nov 22, 2024
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