Raps filed over hospital transfer interference
POLICE yesterday filed criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte for alleged interference in police operations in the hospital transfer of her chief of staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, on early Saturday morning.
Aside from Duterte, also charged before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office was Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) commander Col. Raymund Lachica, and several John Does and Jane Does.
The charges of direct assault, disobedience to authority, and grave coercion were filed by the Quezon City Police District based on the complaint of Lt. Col. Jason Villamor of the PNP Health Service.
The complaint is the latest setback for Duterte amid a bitter breakdown in her relationship with President Marcos Jr.
On Saturday, Lopez was rushed to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City after she fell ill after the House of Representatives ordered her transfer to the Women’s Correctional Institution from the chamber’s detention facility.
Lopez had been initially detained at the House after lawmakers cited her in contempt for supposedly obstructing its investigation on supposed fund misuse of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd).
From the VMMC, Duterte reportedly interfered to have Lopez transferred to St. Luke’s Medical Center, also in Quezon City.
Policemen wanted to keep Lopez at the VMMC on orders of the House.
Lopez was subsequently moved to St. Luke’s after a confrontation between lawmen and Duterte, OVP staff and Lachica.
During the confrontation, Lachica reportedly pushed Villamor to pave the way for the transfer of Lopez to St. Luke’s.
Later on Saturday, Lopez was brought back to the VMMC.
“In a video that surfaced, VPSPG head, Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica, was seen physically pushing and assaulting the PNP doctor-in-charge, which (led) to (the) direct assault complaint,” said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, referring to Villamor.
Marbil said the PNP remains steadfast to its commitment to “uphold justice and ensure that all individuals are held accountable under the law, regardless of their position.”
“We respect the legal process and trust that the courts will conduct a fair and impartial investigation into these serious allegations. The PNP continues to prioritize the rule of law and will fully cooperate with the ongoing legal proceedings to ensure transparency and accountability,” said Marbil.
Marbil said the rule of law is fundamental to the country’s democratic system, adding that, “no one, regardless of their position, should be above accountability.”
He stressed: “The PNP remains committed to ensuring the proper execution of lawful orders and protecting public order.”
He said any attempt to resist or interfere with lawful authority undermines the integrity of the democratic institutions and the principle of equality before the law.
“We call upon everyone to respect legal processes and cooperate with authorities. As public servants, it is our duty to uphold the law and set an example. Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority not only violates the law but also undermines public trust,” he said.
Marbil said the PNP will always ensure that due process is followed and that the law is enforced without bias.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday served a subpoena on Duterte over her death threat to the President and asked her to explain her remarks by Friday.
The President has described as “troubling” Duterte’s early Saturday curse-laden statements.
The National Security Council has said that the kill threat was a national security concern which law authorities are taking seriously.
The Vice President has said that her statements were taken out of context as she insisted that she did not threaten the life of the President.
VPSPG
Meanwhile, Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. announced the pull out of Lachica and other VPSPG personnel in view of the PNP action against them.
Brawner said the PNP has earlier informed the AFP about the investigation “so what we are doing is we are just going to temporarily replace them with a contingent from the Philippine National Police and from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
Brawner could not immediately say how many VPSPG personnel will be pulled out, saying the military was still in the process of identifying the other personnel who will be replaced.
“There are still no details, but the assurance (that we can give) is that we will not leave the Vice President without a security. It is our mandate to protect the President and the Vice President so we will continue to do that,” he said.
“We are not going to leave her because the security of the Vice President is still of primary concern to us,” he added.
Duterte on early Saturday morning implied the Marcos administration is out to kill her. She also said during a virtual press conference that she has talked with someone to kill President Marcos Jr, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she gets killed.
Brawner said chaos may erupt if something happens to the Vice President amid her allegations.
“If some groups will take advantage, do something against the Vice President so others will be blamed, then that could cause chaos,” he said.
‘DISBAR SARA’
Disbarred lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Godon yesterday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to initiate a motu proprio disbarment case against the Vice President, who is a lawyer, over her death threats to the First Couple and Romualdez.
“She categorically and unequivocally stated that she has talked to someone whom she directed to kill the three of them if she herself is killed. While it may be alleged that the intent has not been consummated, nevertheless, the statement revealed a fully constituted plan for murdering three abovenamed individuals as she affirmed that the assassination plot is ‘not a joke’,” Gadon said in a letter to SC justices.
Gadon said Duterte even hurled “expletives” against the First Couple and Romualdez which were watched by millions of Filipinos and reported on the media and social media platforms.
He said the High Court can take judicial notice of the weekend events in disbarring the Vice President.
“Such statements coming from the second highest official of the land, seen and heard by millions of Filipinos, are undoubtedly illegal, immoral, and condemnable. As a lawyer herself, she should be disbarred,” he said.
He noted that Duterte, during her time as Davao city mayor, also punched a sheriff but was not disbarred or at least suspended, adding now is the time to strip the Vice President of her right to practice law.
Gadon said the SC should apply the same ruling that it used when he was disbarred “over an alleged uploaded video against aliar reporter who was spreading lies against then candidate and now President BBM.”
“With due respect, disbar Vice President Sara now under the same motu proprio principle,” he said.
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula called on the Filipino faithful to offer their prayers for peace to reign between Marcos and Duterte.
In a statement, Advincula urged Filipinos to pray for the top two officials of the country and for them to stop their bickering and instead work together and lead the country.
“I humbly exhort you all to pray for them that they may receive the grace to exercise statesmanship in most trying times, so that sobriety may prevail in our land, and that political issues and personal interests may not divide the nation,” said Advincula.
“It is our prayer that they may have the humility to listen to each other with respect and act together for the sake of the country,” he also said.
The Cardinal also asked all government and sectoral leaders to help pacify the situation, instead of aggravating the political conflict.
“I ask all the leaders of goodwill from different sectors of our society to do what they can to prevent the escalation of political and personal conflicts,” Advincula said.
He said the continuation of the escalating tension between Marcos and Duterte will only result to the further neglect of the people in need of help.
“The brewing political storm that our political leaders are facing has drained their energy to serve those in most need and the neglected,” said the prelate. – With Raymond Africa, Gerard Naval and Reuters
