Release of Zuleika Lopez from Detention
Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff for Vice President Sara Duterte, was released on November 30, 2024, after being detained for 10 days. The House committee on good government ordered her release following her contempt citation during an investigation into the alleged misuse of funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Lopez’s release order was made public on Saturday. After receiving the order at 5:34 PM, her discharge from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center depended on her medical condition and recommendation from doctors.
Lopez was previously detained for providing evasive responses and interfering with the House proceedings. She had attempted to prevent the release of the OVP’s confidential funds report to lawmakers. During the investigation, she claimed ignorance of transactions involving the confidential funds, which lawmakers found hard to believe given her senior position.
Vice President Duterte expressed strong discontent with Lopez’s detention, particularly after the committee ordered Lopez’s transfer to a correctional facility. This prompted a midnight press briefing from Duterte, where she made serious threats targeting high-ranking officials if harm came to her. The National Bureau of Investigation is looking into these comments for possible terrorism implications.
Lopez experienced anxiety during her detention and was moved to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Her initial detention was to last five days but was extended due to her absence in the hearings.
The House committee postponed the continuation of the probe to allow Duterte to respond to a subpoena from the NBI, although she did not attend the scheduled hearing.
