Nelson Morales

‘Unconstitutional’: VP Duterte draws flak for acting as lawyer of chief of staff

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - A House lawmaker on Saturday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for claiming that she was acting as legal counsel of her chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez who had been detained for a contempt citation. House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairman Rep. Joel Chua said Duterte claimed her role as a Lopez&#x27;s lawyer when she tried to block the transfer from the House of Representatives detention facility to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.Duterte&#x27;s action is a clear violation of the 1987 Constitution, according to Chua.He cited Section 13, Article VII (Executive Department) of the 1987 Charter which states that “The President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or assistants shall not, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, hold any other office or employment during their tenure. They shall not, during said tenure, directly or indirectly practice any other profession.”&quot;Under the Constitution, the president, the vice president, the members of the Cabinet are prohibited from practicing their profession. So I do not know where the VP is getting this idea that she can stand as counsel for Atty. Lopez,&quot; Chua said in an interview on ANC&#x27;s Dateline Philippines on Saturday, Nov. 23. &quot;Maybe they are using this as an excuse for her to be able to join Atty. Lopez,&quot; the solon added.<div> GROUND FOR IMPEACHMENT?</div> When asked if this could be an indication of an impeachment proceeding against the vice president, Chua said they have yet to discuss it among House members. &quot;Well, frankly speaking, we have yet to talk about it but I’m just saying the excuse of VP to stand as legal counsel prohibits under the Constitution,&quot; the lawmaker replied. However, when asked if the vice president&#x27;s &quot;assassin&quot; remark could be a possible ground for impeachment, Chua replies, &quot;definitely&quot;. In an online press conference early Saturday morning, Duterte claimed has hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez if she were assassinated. &quot;May kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kaniya na kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta at si Martin Romualdez. No joke. Nagbilin na ako ma’am,&quot; Duterte claimed. Chua added that they will tackle all the issues once the House panel convenes on Nov. 25, Monday.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OaiJBi6Gv1E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

A House lawmaker on Saturday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for claiming that she was acting as legal counsel of her chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez who had been detained for a contempt citation.

A House lawmaker on Saturday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for claiming that she was acting as legal counsel of her chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez who had been detained for a contempt citation.