Atty. Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, attends the resumption of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability inquiry on Nov. 20, 2024 into the alleged misuse of public funds by the OVP and the DepEd under Duterte. Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez was doing “okay” in her hospital confinement before dawn on Monday following the alleged emotional strain of her detention at the House of Representatives, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa said. 

Dela Rosa said the Office of Vice President’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez was still recovering at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) past midnight.    

“Okay naman sya. Nakahiga. Hindi kami masyadong nakapagkwentuhan dahil nagpapahinga, nakahiga,” Dela Rosa said.

OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez brought to hospital from House detention

Lopez is “receiving the highest quality medical attention”, said VMMC spokesperson Dr. Joan Mae Perez Rifareal.

“Routine diagnostic tests and imaging procedures are currently being conducted to ensure an accurate evaluation and the development of appropriate medical management plan,” Rifael said.

“VMMC remains steadfast in its commitment in providing compassionate and patient-centered care to all individuals under its care,” she added.

Dr. Rifareal did not disclose any information regarding Lopez’s health status “in accordance to patient confidentiality and privacy protocols.”

The House committee on good governance and public accountability, which is investigating the OVP’s fund use, cited Lopez in contempt for undue interference in the panel’s hearings last Wednesday. The committee’s order to transfer Lopez to the Correctional Institute for Women on Friday night triggered her bouts of vomiting and fainting spells. 

Duterte lashed out at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez in an expletive-filled press conference early morning on Saturday.

During the outburst, Duterte claimed that she has contracted an assassin to kill Marcos Jr., should a plot against her succeed.

Several agencies from the government’s security sector have since expressed their intent to investigate Duterte's statement, with National Security Adviser Sec. Eduardo Año saying they consider all threats to the President as "serious."

Instead of getting impeached, VP Sara Duterte should be probed for plunder, death threat, says analyst

Duterte, who visited Lopez both at the House and the VMMC, said her aide agreed to let her leave the hospital on Sunday. 

Dela Rosa, who replaced Duterte in accompanying Lopez together with Sen. Bong Go, said he would stay in the vicinity of VMMC whether the Vice President returns or not.

“Darating siya o hindi, hindi ako aalis,” Dela Rosa said.

Lopez was in touch with her lawyer and could go home after the contempt order against her expires on Monday, he said.   

“Nag-usap siya sa kanyang lawyer kung anong plano nila… Kung mag-expire na ang contempt order, nothing is holding her from going home.  I'm not so particular about the specifics of that contempt order,” Dela Rosa said. 

Dela Rosa added that a physician from the House of Representatives followed up the status of Lopez in VMMC.

“'Yung doctor ng House of Representatives ata nama-mallow up sa kanyang status. Pumunta diyan kanina,” Dela Rosa said.

Meanwhile, actor Phillip Salvador also visited Lopez at the hospital.  

“Nakikita niya kami, okay siya…pero nakikita mo sa mata niya ‘yung anxiety na nangyari sa kaniya. Ibang klase ‘yun. Nag-lock nga ‘yung jaw, ‘yung katawan niya,” Salvador said.

“Okay siya but she really needs to rest,” he added. 

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