The decision to have Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff and undersecretary Zuleika Lopez stay in the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City was made in consideration of humanitarian reasons, a top official said Sunday.
According to the House of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco, allowing Lopez to stay at the VMMC shows that the lower chamber prioritizes health and safety, as the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability earlier decided to have her moved to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong City.
“For humanitarian reasons and to safeguard her well-being, the Secretary General directed that Atty. Lopez remains at VMMC instead of proceeding with the transfer. This decision reflects the House’s commitment to prioritizing detainees’ health and safety in all circumstances,” Velasco said in a statement released Sunday.
Lopez was ordered detained at the lower chamber after she was cited in contempt for her supposed “undue interference” in the panel’s investigation into the use of confidential funds by offices held by Vice President Sara Duterte.
Her detention is in place until Monday, November 25, when the committee is next scheduled to tackle the disbursements of confidential funds by both the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Duterte.
The Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability last Friday evening decided to have Lopez moved to the correctional facility, but Velasco said the implementation was “obstructed” by Duterte by “blocking the detention room.”
Duterte earlier claimed that the planned transfer of Lopez to the Correctional Institution for Women was “attempted homicide,” as she feared for her life as she gets agitated when she sees a police uniform.
An emotional Lopez in a virtual press conference at 1 a.m. on Saturday morning also expressed her concern about the decision to remove her from the House detention facility, as she said it was a “threat to [her] life.”
For its part, the House of Representatives has maintained that it upholds the legal rights of all detainees, and that its personnel facilitated the entry of healthcare professionals to ensure Lopez’s safety and well-being.
Lopez was reported to have exhibited symptoms of a medical emergency at 2:29 a.m.. The Secretary General said an ambulance from the Quezon City Police District arrived at 3 a.m., and Lopez was en route to the VMMC at 3:08 a.m..
“The House of Representatives ensures that all actions involving detainees held within the institution’s custodial center are guided by established protocols, due process, and a commitment to humane treatment,” Velasco said.
“The House of Representatives remains steadfast in its duty to act with fairness, diligence, and respect for human rights. We assure the public that all concerns will be reviewed thoroughly to ensure accountability and transparency,” he added.
Duterte said she is unsure if Lopez will be attending the Monday hearing, and that she has already expressed her intent to resign from her post. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News
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