Office of the Vice President (OVP) Undersecretary Atty. Zuleika Lopez was rushed to the hospital on Saturday morning after allegedly falling ill, amid the House of Representatives’ directive for her transfer to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong.
Watch> Timeline 3:01am (Saturday) paglipat kay Atty Zuleika Lopez sa Veteran’s Hosp for medical check up pero base sa report, dinala siya sa St Luke’s Hosp @dzrhnews 📹:@HouseofRepsPH pic.twitter.com/VJYIO5ZN6E
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) November 22, 2024
Lopez was initially taken to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center accompanied by Vice President Sara Duterte on board the ambulance. According Edwin Duque's report, Lopez was transferred to St. Luke's Medical Center at 5:30 in the morning.
"Suka siya ng suka tapos nag-collapse," Duterte said in a press briefing.
Duterte asserted that no assistance was given to them at the scene of the incident and disclosed plans to take legal action.
"Humihingi kami ng tulong kasi hindi namin alam kung anong gagawin doon sa loob. Walang tumulong sa amin. Wala," said Duterte.
Prior to this, Belinda Bello, Executive Director of the Legislative Security Bureau, served Lopez the "order to transfer" at 11:30 p.m., directing her move from the House of Representatives' detention facility to the Women’s Correctional Facility as ordered by the House Blue Ribbon Committee.
Vice President Duterte was given a copy of the service order from the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability for Lopez’s impending transfer.
WATCH: Binigay kay VP @indaysara ang kopya ng service order ng House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability para ilipat mula sa @HouseofRepsPH patungong Women's Correctional Facility sa Mandaluyong si Atty. Zuleika Lopez kagabi. | RH 12 @milkyrigonan, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/Gm1CTUl8AD
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) November 22, 2024
On November 21, Duterte previously arrived at the Batasan Complex to visit her Chief-of-Staff. She then stayed in Congressman Paolo Duterte’s room at the House Wing Annex building.
Duterte initially requested to accompany Atty. Lopez in the detention center, but was not allowed under the rules of the House of Representatives.
Lopez was cited for contempt on November 20 due to alleged "undue interference" during a Committee hearing.
The detention will last until November 25, the date of the committee's next hearing on the alleged misuse of confidential funds in the OVP and Department of Education under the leadership of Vice President Duterte.
