Vice President Sara Duterte expressed gratitude to professionals aiding her office during its ongoing crisis, emphasizing that legal concerns are being handled and affected personnel are receiving proper care.
“The legal documents are now with the lawyers, and the patients are under the expert care of healthcare personnel,” Duterte shared in a video posted on Facebook.
She thanked the lawyers, doctors, and other professionals supporting the Office of the Vice President (OVP), which is under scrutiny in a House inquiry regarding its use of confidential funds.
The hearings by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability saw two OVP officials, Chief-of-Staff Zuleika Lopez and Special Disbursement Officer Gina Acosta, requiring hospitalization.
Lopez was moved to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center after emotional distress led to a contempt order against her and a directive for her transfer to the Correctional Institution for Women. Meanwhile, Acosta was hospitalized while being questioned about receipts tied to the disbursement of ₱125 million in confidential funds for 2022.
Despite these challenges, Duterte assured the public that the OVP is pressing forward with year-end activities, office evaluations, and 2025 planning.
“We will remain steadfast in our service to the Filipino people, standing tall, strong, and resilient, even in times of crisis,” she stated, affirming her commitment to overcome adversity.