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OVP's Lopez being treated for acute stress disorder, Acosta under close observation: VMMC

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1732683298181173248794002720241124-lopez-zuleika-quad-comm-VG-1.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Atty. Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, attends the resumption of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability inquiry on Nov. 20, 2024 into the alleged misuse of public funds by the OVP and the DepEd under Duterte. <em>Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez has acute stress disorder, the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) said Wednesday.</div><p>Lopez was admitted to the hospital on November 23 due to panic attack shortly after the House of Representatives issued an order to transfer her to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong.</p><p>“Atty. Zuleika Lopez is currently receiving treatment for acute stress disorder and is also being managed for musculoskeletal strain, including shoulder pain and spinal issues,” according to VMMC Spokesperson Dr. Joan Mae Rifareal.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/25/house-panel-extends-ovp-chief-of-staff-s-detention-2212">READ: House panel extends OVP chief of staff&#x27;s detention</a></div><p>According to the US National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder is similar to PTSD and occurs in 19% of trauma exposed populations.</p><p>Common treatments include psychological first aid and debriefing, and cognitive behavioral treatment.</p><p>“Our team is providing the necessary care to support her recovery,” Rifareal said Wednesday.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:456px;height:595px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1861585188943503377&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2024-11-27T04%3A33%3A04.863734%3Ae8a08a17-34ec-49e9-b25d-333dc1dad967%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=327466f0fc6bc4d9d5dd18d3d7c301560a00757c&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="1861585188943503377"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>Meanwhile, OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, who was also hospitalized after falling ill during the House inquiry on confidential funds, is receiving comprehensive medical care.</p><p>“While we are not at liberty to disclose specific details about her condition, we assure the public that she is receiving the proper care and attention to address her needs,” Rifareal said.</p><p>Lopez and Acosta are being closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to ensure their health and well-being. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/26/another-ovp-official-confined-after-falling-ill-during-house-probe-2231">RELATED: Another OVP official confined after &#x27;falling ill&#x27; during House probe</a></div><div><strong>NO MEDICAL DISRUPTIONS</strong></div><p>The VMMC assured the public that its patient services and the delivery of quality healthcare would not be affected by the confinement of the two OVP officials.</p><p>“Kami ay under sa Department of National Defense. So in terms of security, even before, ay talagang strict na po ang ating security dito at ngayon ay may karagdagan pang layer ng added security para sa lahat ng patients admitted here in our institution sa ngayon,” Rifareal said.</p><p>(We are under the Department of National Defense. So, in terms of security, even before, we have been very strict. So, now, there is just an added layer of security for all our patients currently admitted to our institution) </p><p>Rifareal also said that the two staff do not receive any special treatment and both adhere to the hospital protocols.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Htq0FJM4m4E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Lopez was admitted to the hospital on November 23 due to panic attack shortly after the House of Representatives issued an order to transfer her to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong.</p>

Lopez was admitted to the hospital on November 23 due to panic attack shortly after the House of Representatives issued an order to transfer her to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong.