On Monday, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability approved House Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro’s motion to extend Atty. Zuleika Lopez’ contempt and detention order for five more days.
During the Committee’s seventh hearing, Castro stressed that the House panel consider her motion to extend the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief-of-Staff’s detention to 10 days.
“In view of what happened during the last two days or so, I would like to consider to move for a reconsideration of our resolution. In so far as it’s limited the period of detention of Atty. Lopez, be 10 days instead of 5 days,” Castro said.
“I must stress also, Mr. Chair, that the totality, just (as) you have said a while ago, the totality of Atty. Lopez’s acts and conduct warranted a detention of more than five days,” she added.
It remains unclear whether Lopez will serve the extension at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) or the House detention facility.
It can be recalled that Castro was the first to propose citing Lopez in contempt, initially for five days, with the detention set to conclude on Monday. Lopez faced contempt charges due to her evasive responses and “undue interference” in the House proceedings.
Castro motioned for the extension due to Lopez’ absence during the Monday hearing. The latter submitted an excuse letter, including a medical certificate, indicating her diagnosis.
Meanwhile, House Committee Chairman and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua echoed Castro’s remarks. In a response to SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta’s rebuttal to the motion, Chua cited that Lopez was evasive, uncooperative, and untruthful throughout the inquiry.
“While Atty. Lopez presented herself as courteous or respectful, nakita ng Committee na ang kanyang mga sagot at pagkilos, mula sa mag-umpisa ng inquiry na ito ay evasive, uncooperative, and untruthful,” he said.
“Ang kabuuan ng kanyang mga acts and responses ultimately convince the Committee that Atty. Lopez was guilty of interfering in and frustrating Congress of its exercise in (the) power of legislative inquiry,” he added.
Moreover, Chua cited several cases in which Lopez denied any involvement in the OVP and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) confidential funds. According to the former, the documents and resource persons all point to the OVP official’s involvement.
“Kung titingnan ang totality of Atty. Lopez’ acts, malinaw na mayroong clear, persistent, and willful attempts to interfere, frustrate, and defeat the inquiry undertaken by the Committee. Dahil dito nahatulan siya ng contempt under Section 11 (f) of our rules and procedures governing inquiries in aid of legislation,” Chua stated.
