The Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief-of-Staff Zuleika Lopez should attend the upcoming probe on the office’s questionable spending of its confidential and intelligence funds, the House Blue Ribbon Committee members said during the press conference on Monday.
During the press conference, Zamabales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega were asked about the current whereabouts of the OVP Chief-of-Staff. Lopez left the country the night before the Committee’s hearing earlier in November. However, Khonghun said that Lopez indicated in her letter that she would be back on November 14.
They are expecting Lopez to appear before the Committee in the scheduled hearing this week, as she also received a subpoena from the panel due to her repeated absences. According to Khonghun, her participation would give them the clarity that they are seeking, as she was part of its process.
He also mentioned how Lopez should honor the Committee invite and attend the next probe.
“Kailangan niya i-honor ‘yon kasi napaka halaga niya sa mga hearings na ‘to kasi siya ang nagrerelease. Mas marami siyang masasagot na importanteng katanungan, and hopefully she would shed light dito sa mga anomalya na nahanap ng Good Government Committee,” he said.
Additionally, Ortega stressed the importance of transparency and accountability when handling public funds as it also concerns the general public.
On Public Trust
"Nakita naman natin ngayon yung pag-iwas ng OVP, ni VP Sara sa accountability and transparency kung papaano nila ginamit yung pondo. So papaano pa natin sila pagkakatiwalaan? Yung P700 plus million na ibinigay ng Kongreso at ng Senado sa kanya, tingin namin ay tama na yun. Kumbaga enough na yun para makapagpatakbo ng kanyang opisina," Khonghun stressed.
The lawmaker questioned how they were supposed to trust the office if they can’t account for the public funds they’ve spent. Over Php 700 million in funds were allotted for VP Sara’s office. From 2022 to 2023, the questionable fund spending in her office, including the Department of Education (DepEd), prompted government officials to highlight the said anomaly.
Additionally, the Committee warned that OVP officials may be in danger of losing their positions if no one would be willing to discuss the matter.
Earlier in November, four OVP officials were cited in contempt, while others were subpoenaed due to their repeated absences.
