MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff has been moved to a government hospital from a private one on orders from the House of Representatives and which was carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco signed the order for the transfer of lawyer Zuleika Lopez from St. Luke’s Hospital to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center both in Quezon City on Saturday. Brig Gen. Nicolas Torre 3rd of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group enforced the order after meeting with Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa who was with the vice president.
HOLDING ON TIGHTLY Lawyer Zuleika Lopez (in the middle) holds tightly to Vice President Sara Duterte as they arrive at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she was transferred from St. Luke’s Hospital, both in Quezon City, for check-up on Nov. 23, 2024. The vice president’s chief of staff was detained for contempt at the House of Representatives after she refused to cooperate in the House investigation into the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE Vice president Sara Duterte and Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez was assisted by the PNP to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for a medical check-up.
An emotional Lopez refused the transfer initially but was later convinced by Duterte who visited her Friday night at the House where she was detained for contempt after refusing to cooperate with the investigation into the OVP’s use of confidential funds.
The convoy arrived at VMMC 1 p.m. Lopez was accompanied by Duterte, Dela Rosa, and Lopez’s legal counsel, Lito Go Jr.
Duterte said earlier on Saturday that she assumed the role of Lopez’s legal counsel amid her impending transfer to the Correctional Institution For Women.
But when interviewed againt at the SLMC, Duterte said that she relegated the task to Go.
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