Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The Committee on Good Government took advantage of Vice President Sara Duterte's surprise presence at the House of Representatives Friday, Nov. 22 by serving her another invitation to the ongoing confidential funds probe.

This was confirmed by Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the so-called House version of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

The panel hearings, which delve into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs), resumes on Monday, Nov. 25.

"Kanina ay binigyan na rin siya ng imbitasyon. So hopefully sa Monday makarating siya (She was also given an invitation of the earlier. So hopefully she can attend on Monday)," Chua said in a television interview Friday night.

Reports said that Duterte spent most of Friday at the House detention facility, where her chief-of-staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, was being held.

Duterte arrived at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon at just before 8 p.m. Thursday, with the intention to visit Lopez.

She eventually slept over. She has yet to leave the premises as of this posting.

The Vice President no-showed the good government panel's hearing Wednesday, Nov. 20 despite receiving an invitation for it

Duterte was personally handed the invitation to the particular hearing by the committee secretary during her previous appearance at the House last Nov. 13 in the quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing. 

On Friday night, Vice President Duterte left Lopez at the detention center and held a virtual press conference inside the office of her brother, Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte, She would stay there for the rest of the evening. 

BUT FIRST, READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/22/vp-duterte-visits-detained-chief-of-staff

Chua rejects VP Duterte’s request

In an earlier press conference, Chua said that he denied Duterte's request for her to accompany Lopez at the detention facility for the duration of the OVP chief-of-staff's penalty.

In her request letter, Vice President Duterte appealed to Chua on humanitarian grounds as she cited Lopez’s health and well-being. 

“For humanitarian reasons, I request for consideration of her situation,” Duterte wrote. She mentioned Lopez’s chronic back problems, nausea, and fears for her safety. 

"She has requested me to join her so she may have peace of mind and get adequate rest," the Vice President said of Lopez.

In rejecting the request, Chua cited the strict guidelines of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) when it comes visiting hours. 

“In as much as this humble representation would like to accommodate your request, we are constrained to abide by the guidelines of the OSAA,” said Chua, who stressed that the facility was exclusively for detainees.