Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua reminded Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday, Nov. 23 that she cannot practice law while holding her current position. 

This, after Vice President Duterte presented herself as the lawyer of her embattled chief-of-staff, Zuleika Lopez, while the latter was being transferred before dawn Saturday by House security and Philippine National Police (PNP) from the House of Representatives in Quezon City to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong City.

"Just to add no, alam po ninyo sa ating Saligang Batas, ang president po, ang bise presidente po, at mga miyembro po ng Gabinete ay hindi po inaalow na mag practice ng kanilang profession," Chua said in a press conference.

(You know based on our Constitution, the president, vice president, and members of the Cabinet aren't allowed to practice their profession.)

"Kaya po hindi ko po alam kung ano po yung legal basis ng ating Vice President para sabihin po niya na siya ay nag-iistand as legal counsel of Atty. Lopez," added the lawyer-solon.

(That's why I don't know what the Vice President's legal basis is to say that she stands as legal counsel of Atty. Lopez.)

Chua said the 1987 Constitution is "very specific" on the matter.

"Yung mga senador at mga congressman, under limited practice yan. Nandun po sa ating Saligang Batas," noted the chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

(Our senators and congressmen can have limited practice. It's in our Constitution.)

It was the Chua panel that cited Lopez for contempt and ordered her detention within House premises last Wednesday, Nov. 20.

In defiance of House rules, Duterte accompanied her aide within the Batasan Pambansa complex since Thursday night. 

Duterte finally left the House at past 3 a.m. Saturday as she accompanied Lopez for a medical check-up at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), also in Quezon City. They boarded a PNP ambulance.