DAVAO CITY – Undersecretary Zulieka Lopez, the chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, was released from house detention on Saturday. The release order was signed by Manila Representative Joel Chua, chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
Lopez had been confined at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center since November 23, following her abrupt transfer from the House detention facility due to health concerns. Her initial detention, which was scheduled to expire on November 25, was extended until November 30 before her release.
She was ordered detained after being cited for contempt, accused of “undue interference” in the House panel’s investigation into the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
During a congressional hearing, Lopez denied any involvement or knowledge of how the OVP’s confidential funds were utilized, clarifying that her role was limited to overseeing the institutionalization and implementation of socioeconomic projects under the office.
Duterte defended her chief of staff, stating that Lopez had no involvement in the matter being investigated. Duterte maintained that the accusations against Lopez were unfounded and unrelated to her actual responsibilities within the OVP.
Lopez’s release marks the end of a contentious chapter in the ongoing scrutiny over the use of confidential funds, with debates continuing on the transparency and accountability of such allocations.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
