The Daily Tribune
House extends Lopez detention to 10 days
The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has extended the detention of Vice President Sara Duterte's Chief of Staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, from five to ten days.
Lopez was initially cited in contempt for five days due to being evasive and for "undue interference" by requesting the Commission on Audit (COA) to withhold compliance with a subpoena for records on the utilization of P500 million in confidential and intelligence funds.
The extension was moved by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, who cited Lopez's absence from a legislative hearing due to "acute stress disorder" as an obstruction to the investigation.
Lopez presented a medical certificate diagnosing her with acute stress disorder, citing symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks, along with musculoskeletal strain.
Vice President Duterte had previously questioned the initial extended detention and accused the House panel of singling out Lopez.
Lopez is currently detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.
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Atty. Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, was detained after being cited for contempt by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability for allegedly interfering in the probe into the Office of the Vice President's confidential funds.
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Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), plans to take legal action against the House committee's decision to extend her detention by 10 days.
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Vice President Sara Duterte expressed dismay over the perceived lack of aid for her chief-of-staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, following a health episode during her detention at the House of Representatives.
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Vice President Sara Duterte is staying indefinitely at the office of her brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, at the House of Representatives.
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The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability ordered the release of Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez after a medical examination.
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