Tovic Salvador

Quezon City police file criminal complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, her security officer Army Col. Raymund Lachica and others on Nov. 27, 2024 over a confrontation at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City last Saturday.

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wCyicYUFezQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — A police doctor on Wednesday filed a formal complaint for Direct Assault, Disobedience, and Grave Coercion against Vice President Sara Duterte, the head of her security detail and others over an incident at Veterans Memorial Medical Center over the weekend.</p><p>Dr. Van Jason Villamor of the PNP Health Service, accompanied by his witnesses, filed the complaint before Assistant City Prosecutor Rommel Delos Reyes at the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City.</p><p>The complaint accuses Duterte, her security head Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, and others of unlawful acts related to the assault, disobedience, and coercion that occurred during the transfer of her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez to VMMC from House of Representatives Detention Center over the weekend. </p><p>Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said Villamor is assigned to the Quezon City Police District and “was specifically instructed to assist the patient at [and bring her] personally to Veterans Hospital.”</p><p>Fajardo continued:  “However, tinulak siya ng mismong security ni VP Sara, si Col. Lachica, at we cannot let this pass.”</p><p>(But Col. Lachica pushed him and we cannot let that pass) </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/23/vp-duterte-accuses-house-speaker-romualdez-of-attempted-homicide-2020">READ: VP Duterte accuses House Speaker Romualdez of &#x27;attempted homicide&#x27;</a></div><p>Fajardo said Lachica’s actions “obviously can qualify to a case of direct assault” or qualified direct assault since Lachica is a public official who laid hands on “agents of a person of authority whose presence there is by virtue of his performance of his official duty.”</p><p>Police Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, PNP chief, said the filing of complaints marks a crucial step in the legal process, and the agency assures the public that it will continue to uphold its duty to serve with integrity and professionalism.</p><p>“The Philippine National Police remains steadfast in 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,” Marbil said in a statement.</p><p>Apart from Duterte and Lachica, Buslig said “several John Does and [Jane Does]” are also included in the complaint, Police Col. Melecio Buslig Jr., QCPD chief, told media on Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/24/rep-paolo-duterte-shares-version-of-standoff-at-house-1314">RELATED: Rep. Duterte, House official offer different narratives of standoff over OVP aide&#x27;s transfer</a></div><div><strong>LOPEZ BROUGHT TO VMMC FROM HOUSE</strong></div><p>Lopez, ordered detained at the House last week reportedly vomited and fell unconscious early Saturday morning after being told that she was being transferred to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.</p><p>She was rushed to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center before being brought to St. Luke&#x27;s Medical Center, both in Quezon City.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/27/ovp-s-lopez-being-treated-for-acute-stress-disorder-acosta-under-close-observation-vmmc-1257">READ: OVP&#x27;s Lopez being treated for acute stress disorder, Acosta under close observation: VMMC</a></div><p>Lopez was transferred back to VMMC on Saturday and is being treated for acute stress disorder, the government-run hospital said Wednesday.</p><p>The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has been looking into how Duterte&#x27;s offices used confidential funds granted in 2022 and 2023.</p><p>The committee last week cited Lopez for contempt and ordered her detained at the House for what members said was interference in House proceedings.</p><p>The panel later ordered her transferred to a prison in Mandaluyong, saying Duterte staying at the House to watch over her aide raised security concerns. <strong>— with Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>The complaints were filed at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office <i>by Police Col. Melecio Buslig Jr., QCPD chief, and other officers.</i></p>

The complaints were filed at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office by Police Col. Melecio Buslig Jr., QCPD chief, and other officers.

Police file assault and other raps vs Duterte, security detail official

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Police file assault and other raps vs Duterte, security detail official

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 27, 2024 01:32 PM PHT

|

Updated November 27, 2024 03:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Quezon City Police District

Sara Duterte

Raymund Lachica

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