Former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez criticized the House of Representatives for allegedly overstepping its authority in detaining lawyer Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff to Vice President Sara Duterte, describing the move as harassment.
The outgoing lawmaker said the lower chamber may face charges of arbitrary detention for transferring Lopez to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, a facility under the Executive Department, rather than a legislative detention facility.
“What they (lawmakers) did to Atty. Lopez was totally wrong. The authority of Congress to detain is limited to detention facilities under its jurisdiction. Yes, it has discretion, but it is not unlimited and unbridled,” Alvarez told reporters in an interview.
“The Correctional Institute for Women is under the executive department. It’s with the Bureau of Corrections, so mismatch,” he added.
Lopez was cited for contempt during a House Quad Committee hearing on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget spending and initially detained at the House premises. After falling ill, she was transferred to a hospital and later to the Mandaluyong correctional facility.
Alvarez, a known Duterte ally and a vice gubernatorial candidate for Davao del Norte, argued that the transfer was a misuse of power and not grounded in law. He emphasized that Lopez is not a criminal to begin with and, therefore, should not be transferred to
“The House of Representatives has its own detention facilities. The detention should be there. Why are you transferring?” he asked. “It is clear. This is a brazen abuse of authority and misuse of power. What is happening is harassment.”
Alvarez contrasted the House’s handling of Lopez’s case with the Senate’s treatment of Alice Guo, who was cited for contempt under Senator Risa Hontiveros’ leadership. “The Senate is better… They are asserting their authority in a proper manner.”
