VP Duterte intervenes as Zuleika Lopez faces committee order

Vice President Sara Duterte intervened as her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez faced a House committee order to be transferred from the House of Representatives complex to a prison in Mandaluyong City.

Duterte's brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, claimed that police refused entry to Lopez's lawyers and that VP Duterte acted as Lopez's legal counsel, but House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco denied these allegations.

Velasco stated that established protocols were followed and humane treatment was ensured, with no record of any lawyer being denied entry to meet Lopez.

Lopez experienced severe back pain and shortness of breath during the incident, leading to a medical transfer first to Veterans Memorial Medical Center then St. Luke’s Hospital before returning to VMMC due to her health condition.

The House allowed Lopez to remain at VMMC instead of proceeding with her transfer to the Women's Correctional Facility after she raised medical issues following a panic attack.