Sara Duterte Receives Indefinite Access to House Office Amid Aide’s Detention

When Family Ties Get Tangled in Politics: A ‘Home’ Away from Home for VP Duterte

Ah, family! The glue that holds our lives together—or the chains that bind us to our most intriguing, perplexing predicaments. This week, Vice President Sara Duterte decided that the confines of a politician’s office are just as good as the cozy living room at home. Yes, you heard that right: she’s taken an indefinite sabbatical from actual vice-presidential duties to camp out in her brother’s office at the House of Representatives. It’s like a family reunion, but with more subpoenas and fewer potato salads!

Sleeping in the House: Not Just for Homeless Politicians

So, what brings our intrepid VP to the hallowed halls of power for an extended stay? Well, it seems her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, has found herself in a bit of a pickle—detained for allegedly mismanaging funds during Duterte’s reign at the Department of Education. Political drama? Check. Sibling support? Double check! Sara’s been playing the dutiful sister, providing emotional support while Laura Ingalls Wilder would probably roll over in her grave knowing this is not quite what she had in mind when she wrote about wholesome family values.

No Electricity? No Problem!

Of course, no good family gathering is complete without a little chaos, and it seems the House of Representatives had a power shutdown just before the VP’s visit. “I guarantee no illegal acts will be committed,” the brother, Congressman Duterte, assured. Well, with a power outage that long, let’s hope that no one started digging up the electrical wiring—now that would be illegal! It’s a tough crowd when not even a light bulb can stay lit during what could be the most interesting family drama since the Kardashians invaded reality TV.

Planning for Permanent Residence?

Just when you think this tale couldn’t get more comical, Duterte hinted at staying well into next year—or for as long as her staff remains a guest of Congress, citing the “Ilocos 6” as her primary motivation. If resembling a hostage situation was not enough, her ability to joke with Lopez—who’s apparently in good spirits—while dodging Congress’ grilling might just be the stuff of sitcom legends.

“High Spirits” or High Drama?

As we descend deeper into this narrative rabbit hole, we learn that Zuleika Lopez finds comfort in the fact that Sara can still “make her laugh.” Ah, the power of humor amidst dire circumstances! If only they had a Netflix special: “Sisterhood of the Traveling Detention: Laughing Our Way Out of Congress.” Talk about a binge-worthy series! Until this all becomes an even longer-running saga, we can only wonder how many episodes are left before this season finale airs—complete with political intrigue and an ethical cliffhanger.

Wrap-Up: A Political Soap Opera

So here we have it, folks: a family gathering that breaks the fourth wall of legality and propriety all while teetering precariously on the edge of political chaos. Will Duterte’s cozy little office camping turn into a long-term arrangement? Only time—and possibly Netflix—will tell. But as it stands, that living room gathering just leveled up into a full-blown soap opera. Grab the popcorn; this plot is just getting started!

Disclaimer: No light bulbs were harmed during the writing of this article, and all opinions expressed are meant in good fun for the public’s entertainment.

This article takes a cheeky, observational tone, combining a blend of sharp humor and political insight, leaning on a conversational style that engages the reader.

Vice President Sara Duterte has secured indefinite approval from her brother to utilize his office within the House of Representatives

The Vice President’s prolonged stay will be aligned with her visits to Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, along with other personnel from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), currently held in the custody of the Congress’ Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) located in the Legislative Building of the House of Representatives, as articulated in a letter to Congressman Chua.

In a statement included in the correspondence, the Davao congressman assured, “I guarantee that no illegal acts or unlawful activities shall be committed by the Vice President, her security, and other personnel during their time here.”

Additionally, the congressman subtly referenced a recent power outage that affected the House for several hours while Vice President Duterte and her staff occupied his office, noting, “Kindly note that she is amenable to stay in this Representation’s office even without electricity and running water during the periods of maintenance.”

Since arriving at the House on Thursday night, November 21, promptly at 7:40 PM, the Vice President has dedicated significant time to visiting her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez. Lopez has been in detention since November 20, after being cited for contempt by Congressman Chua’s panel, which is conducting an investigation into alleged misuse of funds associated with Duterte’s time as both Vice President and former Department of Education chief.

The Vice President has indicated plans for an extended stay at the House, based on the detention status of her staff. In a Friday evening media interview conducted via Zoom, she revealed, “We are considering staying here much longer,” contingent on how long her aides remain detained.

When asked if she would be present at the House until the following Monday, which coincides with the next hearing concerning her alleged financial improprieties, Duterte stated that her team is contemplating two potential timelines: an indefinite stay extending possibly until after New Year’s Eve or until Congress adjourns in June 2025.

This decision draws upon precedents set by the “Ilocos 6” — a group of six officials who faced detention within the House for an extensive 57 days back in 2017 amid similar investigations regarding the misuse of important funds.

The Vice President articulated that her anticipated duration of stay is informed by expectations that once her four additional OVP associates — Gina Acosta, Sunshine Fajarda, Edward Fajarda, and Lemuel Ortonio — attend the upcoming Monday hearing, they too would likely face detention.

The House good government committee had previously cited contempt against the four individuals due to their ongoing absence from the inquiry into the purported misuse of public funds during Duterte’s administration.

Regarding her potential appearance at the House hearing next week, Duterte maintained that discussions with her legal team are still pending, as their primary focus continues to be on Lopez’s situation.

Lopez in ‘high spirits’

In recent updates concerning Lopez, the Vice President expressed optimism, revealing that her chief of staff is in “high spirits” and even shared moments of laughter during their interactions throughout her visits, which she interpreted as a positive indication of Lopez’s emotional state. “I can make her laugh, which means that she still gets my jokes,” Duterte affirmed.

Reflecting on her relationship with Lopez, Duterte shared that her chief of staff requested her company during this challenging time for reassurance, stating that Lopez was prone to anxiety attacks. To provide needed support, the Vice President opted to occupy her brother’s nearby office while Lopez remains in her detention at the House, ensuring she is close by for comfort and support. – Rappler.com

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