Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Three top officials of the House of Representatives have criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for staying overnight within the chamber’s premises, calling it a disrespect of the institution's rules. 

This was after Duterte visited detained Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez at the House detention center at around 7:40 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. 

The problem--at least for the House--is that Duterte didn't leave when she was asked to. 

Slamming the Vice President's move were Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez, and Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe. 

"Binuksan namin ang pinto ng malasakit para sa kanya, binigyan siya ng espesyal na pahintulot na bisitahin si Atty. Zuleika Lopez, na kasalukuyang nasa aming kustodiya, kahit lampas na sa regular na oras ng pagbisita," the three House officials said in a joint statement. 

(We opened the door of compassion for her, gave her special permission to visit Atty. Zuleika Lopez, who is currently in our custody, even if way past the regular visiting hours.) 

"Pero pagkatapos ng oras ng pagbisita na natapos nang 10:00 ng gabi, hindi siya umalis. Sa halip, nagtuloy siya sa opisina ng kanyang kapatid na si Rep. Paolo Duterte at nagkulong doon," they said. 

(After the lapse of visiting hours at 10 p.m., she didn't leave. Instead, she went to the office of her sibling, Rep. Paolo Duterte, and locked herself there.) 

"Kahit ilang beses siyang pinakiusapan ng aming Sergeant-at-Arms na umalis, binalewala niya ito, dahilan para magpatupad kami ng lockdown para sa kaligtasan ng lahat at proteksyon ng institusyon," they noted. 

(She ignored multiple requests from our Sergeant-at-Arms to leave, which caused us to implement a lockdown for everybody's safety and to protect the institution.) 

'We follow rules and protocols'

The trio said: "Gusto naming ipaalala sa lahat, lalo na sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno, na may mga patakaran at protokol kaming sinusunod sa malaking lapulungan para tiyakin ang seguridad at kaayusan." 

(We want to remind everybody, especially government officials, that we in the bigger chamber follow rules and protocols to ensure security and order.) 

"Hindi ito basta-basta nilalabag, kahit sino pa ang tao. Kapag hindi nasunod ang mga ito, para na rin nating sinira ang respeto sa institusyon na nagsisilbi sa taumbayan," the ranking solons added. 

(We don't compromise with these rules, regardless of the person involved. To violate these rules is to disrespect the institution that serves the people.) 

"Ang malaking kapulungan ay para sa lahat ng Pilipino. Hindi ito lugar para abusuhin o gawing personal na espasyo, kahit pa sino ka. Kung walang respeto sa mga simpleng patakaran, paano tayo magtitiwala na kaya nilang igalang ang mas malalaking responsibilidad na iniatang ng taongbayan sa kanila?" they asked. 

(The bigger chamber is for all Filipinos. This place shouldn't be abused or turned into one's personal space, whoever you may be. If there is no respect for simple rules, how can we trust that they can respect the bigger responsibilities that the public placed on their shoulders?) 

Gonzales, Suarez, and Dalipe vowed to prevent a repeat of the incident, even as Duterte remained at the House as of this posting.

Sisiguraduhin namin na hindi na mauulit ang ganitong insidente. Palalakasin pa namin ang mga patakaran, titiyakin na pantay itong ipatutupad, at poprotektahan ang integridad ng aming institusyon. 

(We will make sure that this incident won't happen again. We will strengthen our rules, ensure that these are implemented fairly, and protect the integrity of the institution.) 

It was reported that Duterte returned to accompany Lopez at the detention center on Friday morning.