The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte and her staff for direct assault, grave coercion, and disobedience to authority in connection to the hospital transfer of her aide last year.
In a two-page resolution the prosecution office says the complaints filed by the Quezon City Police District against Vice President Duterte and her security head Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica lacked evidence that could warrant conviction.
The case stemmed from the incident last November 23, 2024 when Vice President Duterte and her security head allegedly forced the transfer of then detained aide Atty. Zuleika Lopez from Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) to a private hospital.
Lopez was detained after a house panel cited her in contempt for breaking house rules in connection to the probe on alleged Duterte’s confidential funds misuse.
Police alleged that Duterte’s security head Col. Lachica physically assaulted Police Lt. Col Dr. Van Jason Villamor but the prosecution office was not convinced.
“The alleged commission of Direct Assault, Disobedience to Authority and Grave Coercion is not supported by evidence. Interestingly, not one of the witnesses of Police Lt. Col. Villamor corroborated his claims regarding the purported attack, employment of physical force, intimidation, resistance disobedience, violence and threat,”. The resolution stated.
The resolution further stated that the quantum of evidence needed in preliminary investigation increased from probable cause to prima facie evidence but the complaint failed to reach the said level.
(Inday Sara Duterte photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.