Vice President Sara Duterte was asked to leave the House of Representatives premises on Thursday night after visiting her chief-of-staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez. However, she declined the request from House officials to vacate the area.

The Vice President said she was prepared to remain “indefinitely” in the office of her brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, as long as officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) are held in contempt by the House’s blue ribbon committee.

In a letter dated Nov. 22, Congressman Pulong informed the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that he had given his sister permission to stay in his office.

In a press conference via Zoom held late Friday night, VP Sara said she told House Sergeant-at-Arms, retired MGen. Napoleon Taas, not to worry about her when they discussed her security inside the House. She claimed that only House Speaker Martin Romualdez wanted her dead but that he would not do it inside the House complex.

“Sir, isa lang naman ang gustong pumatay sa akin, si Martin Romualdez. And I don’t think gagawin niya ‘yan rito sa loob ng House of Representatives. Gagawin niya ‘yan sa labas,” VP Sara said.

“I know him from the short time na nagkasama kami. I’m a good judge of character. Mabilis ako maka-assess ng isang tao. Nagkasama kami sa kampanya. I’m no psychologist, but that man has so much baggage and insecurities sa buhay niya,” she added.

Romualdez earlier asked VP Sara to personally explain before the House panel the disbursement of confidential funds by her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as secretary.

The Speaker made this call on Thursday after Lopez informed the House inquiry on the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the DepEd’s use of confidential funds that she had no role in their release.