The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has yet to finalize its decision regarding the detention of Vice President Sara Duterte’s Chief-of-Staff, Zuleika Lopez. Her contempt order, set to expire on Saturday, remains under discussion, according to committee vice chairman Jefferson “Jay” Khonghun.
In a virtual press briefing, Khonghun clarified that the decision—whether to extend the detention, grant a furlough, or release Lopez—will require a collective vote from the committee.
“The decision on Atty. Zuleika’s contempt order must be discussed by the committee. It cannot be decided by just one person or the chairman alone; it must be a collective decision,” he stated.
Lopez has been confined at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center after falling ill following the committee’s earlier directive to transfer her to the Correctional Institution for Women.
The committee is factoring in Lopez’s health status and is seeking medical advice from her doctors at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to guide its deliberations.
Khonghun emphasized the importance of making a timely decision to avoid setting a precedent where resource persons cited in contempt are released due to technicalities.
“If the committee fails to decide, the [order] will expire, and Atty. Zuleika could be released on a technicality. This is why we must deliberate carefully, as we don’t want this to become a precedent,” Khonghun said.
Lopez was cited for contempt for allegedly interfering in the panel’s investigation into the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP). During a congressional hearing, Lopez maintained that she had no involvement in how the OVP’s confidential funds were utilized, explaining that her role was limited to overseeing socioeconomic projects.
Vice President Duterte has defended Lopez, stating that her chief of staff had no knowledge of the matters under scrutiny.