Office of the Vice President (OVP) Undersecretary and Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez. INQUIRER / GRIG MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez will take legal steps against the decision of the House committee on good government and public accountability to extend her detention to 10 days.
In an interview on Tuesday, Vice President Sara Duterte said Lopez had started meeting with her lawyers this morning.
鈥淎ttorney Lopez, whose detention was extended, has meetings today with her lawyers, and her mother is also there. Let鈥檚 just wait for her attorneys to move,鈥� Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.
鈥淪he鈥檒l take legal steps. That鈥檚 what she told me.,鈥� she added.
搁贰础顿:听BuCor ready for possible detention of OVP exec Zuleika Lopez
Duterte likewise revealed that this was what Lopez鈥檚 mother would want 鈥� to take the issue to court.
Lopez was cited for contempt by the panel investigating the alleged misuse of funds for the OVP and DepEd after lawmakers found her committing undue interference during the committee鈥檚 sixth hearing.
The vice president also stayed at the House premises last Friday night to accompany Lopez, who is now confined at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
Lopez鈥檚 health condition
Regarding matters concerning Lopez鈥檚 health, the vice president said she 鈥渘o longer cries.鈥� The OVP chief of staff is currently accompanied by her mother and best friend from Davao City.
Likewise, Sen. Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� Dela Rosa, who was also at the VMMC told reporters in a separate interview that Lopez鈥檚 condition was improving.
鈥淵esterday, when she found out I was going to leave, she cried and had a panic attack again. The VP was not there. I went to the house. I went to the Senate in session,鈥� Dela Rosa said in Filipino.
鈥淪he鈥檚 okay. It was only yesterday that she had a panic attack,鈥� he added.
Moreover, Duterte said that Lopez underwent a CT scan, to rule out the possibility of a stroke.