VICE President Sara Duterte on Sunday said she is unsure whether her Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff and undersecretary, Zuleika Lopez, will attend the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s next hearing on Monday, November 25.
Lopez has been confined at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City since early Saturday morning after falling ill.
Her hospitalization came amidst a House order for her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women following a contempt citation.
In an ambush interview before leaving the VMMC to visit her children, Duterte said she is not privy to Lopez’s plans, as these depend on discussions with her doctors and legal team.
“Hindi ko alam kay Atty. Lopez kasi hindi ako nakikinig sa discussion niya sa mga doctor niya tsaka sa mga abogado niya. Tsaka darating din ‘yun nanay niya bukas,” Duterte said. (I don’t know if Atty. Lopez will attend the next hearing because I’m not listening to her discussions with her doctors and lawyers. Her mother will also arrive tomorrow.)
Duterte also disclosed that Lopez has expressed her intent to resign from her position in the OVP amid the ongoing controversy.
Detention and Congressional Probe
Lopez’s detention stems from her being cited in contempt for alleged undue interference in the committee’s probe into the use of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as secretary.
Lawmakers have accused Lopez of obstructing the investigation, which includes questions about state auditors’ findings of irregularities in the acknowledgment receipts for OVP expenditures.
Lopez’s contempt order is effective until November 25, coinciding with the date of the committee’s next hearing. However, her ability to appear remains uncertain due to her current medical condition.
At a previous hearing, Lopez told lawmakers she was unaware of how the OVP utilized, disbursed, or liquidated its confidential funds. The lack of clarity prompted further scrutiny from the committee.
Duterte denies misuse allegations
Vice President Duterte has strongly denied allegations of misusing OVP funds and criticized the congressional inquiry as politically motivated. She described the proceedings as a “test case” for impeachment against her.
The outcome of Monday’s hearing, and Lopez’s potential attendance, could have significant implications for the ongoing probe and Duterte’s political standing.