Tovic Salvador

House extends detention for VP Sara Duterte's 'evasive, untruthful' aide

Article (news)

David Dizon

Vivienne Gulla

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has extendsed to 10 days the detention period for Vice President Sara Duterte’s top aide Zuleika Lopez, who was previously cited in contempt over “undue interference” in the panel proceedings.House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro made the motion to extend the detention period, citing Lopez’s supposed “history of evasive attitude” and “lying”.Committee chairperson Rep. Joel Chua noted Lopez had been “evasive, uncooperative and untruthful” to the committee, saying the Vice President’s chief aide had requested for the OVP’s confidential funds and had facilitated its liquidation and utilization.He added Lopez had also admitted removing several officials from the Department of Education even though she is not an official of the department.Lopez is currently recuperating at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) after falling ill over the weekend.“Nakahiga lang siya sa bed at nakakausap. Siguro iniinda niya ‘yong likod niya. Sabi niya scoliosis at saka ‘yong frozen shoulder… Nag-improve siya compared doon sa last night na hindi man lang siya makagalaw sa katawan niya. Nag-improve siya ng kaunti,” Sen. Bato Dela Rosa said during an ambush interview.The senator, who has been accompanying Lopez since Saturday, said the Office of the Vice President&#x27;s chief of staff could converse but occasionally exhibited sudden changes in her demeanor.He noted that these changes often occur whenever she recalls the serving of the House’s transfer order to the Women’s Correctional Institute in Mandaluyong City.Meanwhile, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said it prepared an air-conditioned room in the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) should Lopez be transferred to the facility in Mandaluyong City.If Duterte’ chief of staff Zuleika Lopez is transferred to the CIW, she will stay in a room across alleged illegal gambling hub representative Cassandra Ong’s detention area, BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. told reporters.“Just like Cassandra Ong na nasa akin ngayon, may adjacent room na ganoon kalaki din, comfortable, may aircon naman,” he said, noting that they have yet to receive a transfer order for Lopez.“May bantay kami doon… 24 hours ang bantay. Safety and security, we have to guarantee kasi trabaho namin yan,” he said.A medical unit will be on standby to attend to Lopez should she require any medical attention, he said.Catapang Jr. explained that Lopez — just like Ong — would not be mixed with other detainees as they have yet to be sentenced by a court.<div>VP SEEKS RECONSIDERATION</div>Duterte, who had to take the truth oath before she was recognized to speak during the hearing, asked the committee to reconsider its decision, saying it is “illegal.&quot;She added that lawmakers should question the appointing authority, who accepted the resignation of the four DepEd officials, instead of punishing Lopez.&quot;You need to reconsider that extension of your detention. That is illegal in the first place. You ask the President why he accepted the resignation. Do not ask due process,” Duterte said.House Committee Chairperson Representative Joel Chua told the Vice President to respect the panel’s decision, and advised her to raise her question before a court.“I will go to court. Pero araw-araw, you are depriving a person of her liberty, while I await,” Duterte answered.“That is the decision of the committee as a whole. Sana po respetuhin ninyo. Kung may remedy… pwede tayong magfile ng relief sa court,” Chua said.“Tinutulungan ko lang kayo sir, kasi napapahiya ang Pilipinas. Ganito ba ang House of Representatives?” Duterte added.SAGIP Party List Representative Rodante Marcoleta questioned the panel’s order, which led to a heated exchange with ABANG LINGKOD Party List Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano.This prompted the panel chair to briefly suspend the hearing. When it resumed, House Committee Vice Chairperson Rep. Romeo Acop advised lawmakers to agree to disagree on the matter.<div>OVP CHIEF OF STAFF SKIPS MONDAY HEARING</div>Lopez skipped the resumption on Monday of the House panel inquiry into the P612.5 million confidential expenses of the OVP and the DepEd under VP Duterte.In a letter to the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chairperson on Sunday, Lopez sought to be excused in the Monday hearing, saying she was diagnosed with “acute stress disorder”.Over the weekend, she was admitted and confined at the government-owned VMMC. She reportedly experienced severe back pain, shortness of breath and fainting after being informed of the order to transfer her from the House detention facility to a prison in Mandaluyong City.“As you may have been made aware, yesterday, November 23, 2024, I was admitted and confined in the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and was subsequently diagnosed with Acute Stress Disorder following the series of incidents leading to my eventual transfer to the said government facility,” Lopez said.“In connection with the same, I am sincerely and humbly hoping for the kind consideration of this Honorable Committee in excusing my appearance for tomorrow&#x27;s hearing,” she added.Lopez attached to her letter, a copy of the Certificate of Confinement dated November 24, 2024, which was issued by the VMMC, and signed by four doctors.The certificate stated that Lopez is being managed for “Acute Stress Disorder” after presenting with difficulty in sleeping, nightmares, shoulder and back pain.“She is being managed for Acute Stress Disorder after presenting with difficulty in sleeping, anxiety and intrusive symptoms in the form of nightmares, flashbacks and avoidance, alongside a diagnosis of Musculoskeletal strain of both shoulders to consider chronic adhesive capsulitis, spinal asymmetry of the thoracic spine, lumbar spondylosis after presenting with shoulder pain with limited range of motion and back pain,” the doctors said.House Deputy Speaker David Suarez, however, pointed out that the doctors did not specify in the certificate that Lopez is not physically incapable of attending the hearing due to her condition.“Totoo po na mayroon siyang certificate of confinement. Kaso hindi sinasabi ng kanyang mga doktor na hindi siya physically incapable of attending today’s hearing. I find it a little bit odd na hindi binanggit dito na dahil sa kanyang kondisyon, hindi siya makakarating. I want to point that out that that is not included in her certificate of confinement,” Suarez said.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has extendsed to 10 days the detention period for OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, who was previously cited in contempt over “undue interference” in the panel proceedings.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has extendsed to 10 days the detention period for OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, who was previously cited in contempt over “undue interference” in the panel proceedings.