FILE PHOTO: Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of City Government of Davao
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Vice President Sara Duterte will be staying 鈥渋ndefinitely鈥� in the office of her brother Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo 鈥淧ulong鈥� Duterte at the House of Representatives (HOR) to visit her office鈥檚 personnel who are currently detained in the building.
In a letter dated Nov. 22, Pulong informed House committee on good government and public accountability chair Joel Chua that he has given his sister permission to stay in his office.
鈥淭his [r]epresentation is writing to respectfully inform you that I have given my sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, my unconditional permission to stay indefinitely in my office to discharge her day-to-day duties,鈥� said Pulong.
According to Pulong, Sara鈥檚 indefinite stay corresponds to her visits to her chief-of-staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, as well as other personnel of the Office of the Vice President who are currently under the custody of the Congress鈥檚 Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
鈥淚 guarantee that no illegal acts or unlawful activities shall be committed by the Vice President, her security, and other personnel during their stay,鈥� said Pulong.
All this developed after Sara spent the night at the office of her brother to visit Lopez, who was cited for contempt by a House panel and was ordered detained for five days.
Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez, and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe in a joint statement earlier said that Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas already asked Sara to leave the House premises after 10:00 p.m.
READ: VP Duterte ignores request to leave House after visiting chief of staff
However, the Vice President insisted on staying.