By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) maintains its ‘non-political’ stance on issues surrounding Atty. Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff to Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who was cited in contempt by the House of Representatives.
In a statement, the IBP clarified that Lopez attended the House hearing in her capacity as chief of staff to Duterte-Carpio, not as a lawyer.
“The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is prohibited from engaging in partisan politics. It is prohibited from making any public statements, taking any action, or engaging in any activity that tends to favor a particular political party or political group,” the IBP said, referencing Section IV of its revised By-Laws (Bar Matter 4261).
The IBP further emphasized, “If the IBP takes a stand regarding the order of contempt and detention issued by the Committee of Congress against the said individual, it will surely be interpreted as an activity that tends to impair the basic feature of the IBP as a non-political organization.”
Lopez is currently under House detention and confined at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center after being cited in contempt.
The House quad committee is investigating the utilization of funds by the Department of Education during Duterte-Carpio’s tenure, as well as the Office of the Vice President.
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