OVP Chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB, Facebook)

Assistant Majority Leader Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun can't help but get "suspicious" over Vice President Sara Duterte's insistence on accompanying her chief-of-staffl, Zuleika Lopez, to the point that she would brazenly defy House rules.

"What's so special about the relationship between VP Sara to Atty. Lopez?" Khonghun, a member of the "Young Guns" bloc, asked. 

"We can't help but be suspicious of her motives of offering to join her chief-of-staff in detention. Or is this just for show, another attempt at heroics?" he wondered. 

Duterte, 46 and Lopez, 50, apparently go way back. Lopez was the city hall administrator when Duterte was the mayor of Davao City from 2010 to 2013.

Lopez found herself back at the city hall in 2016, when Duterte was again elected as mayor.

Duterte arrived at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon at just before 8 p.m. Thursday, with the intention of visiting Lopez. She eventually slept over. 

She has yet to leave the premises as of this posting despite requests from House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas for her to vacate due to security reasons.

Khonghun questioned Duterte’s actions and suggested that her close proximity to Lopez might be an attempt to prevent disclosures about the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) alleged malfeasance in the use of her confidential funds.

Duterte is the focal point of an investigation on alleged confidential funds misuse by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

CLICK HERE:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/22/castro-hits-vp-duterte-s-selective-house-appearances

The Zambales solon expressed concern over potential breach of security protocols and the perceived disregard for institutional norms. 

“Is this the Duterte brand? Ignoring all security protocols of any government agency just to satisfy a whim? Can that be done in their offices at the Office of the Vice President? Why is their behavior bereft of respect? Why act like a brat?” Khonghun said.

The solon reminded the Vice President of her duty to uphold the law and serve as a role model for citizens.