Vice President Sara Duterte announced on Saturday that Atty. Zuleika Lopez, her chief of staff, has expressed her intention to step down from her position.
“She already expressed earlier, she said, ‘I want to resign from the Office of the Vice President.’ And I told her, ‘Okay,’” Duterte said during a media briefing.
According to Duterte, Lopez cited personal reasons, including her desire to return home to her mother. “‘Pag natapos na ito, ‘yung paghahanap niya sa akin (After this matter is resolved, the search for me), I will resign. And I will go home to my mother. I just want to be with my mother,” Lopez reportedly told Duterte.
However, Duterte acknowledged that Lopez’s immediate return home was “truly impossible” at this point. “At sinabi rin kanina, tapusin mo ‘yung check-up (She was also told earlier to finish her check-up),” Duterte added.
Lopez to Finish Hearings Before Resigning
Duterte confirmed that Lopez would complete her commitments, including ongoing hearings, before stepping down. “On that point, Martin Romualdez won. She is resigning. Tatapusin lang niya ‘yung hearings (She will just finish the hearings),” Duterte said, referring to the House Speaker.
Detention and Health Concerns
Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives ordered Lopez to be moved back to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City from St. Luke’s Medical Center, where she was initially transferred for medical reasons.
Lopez had raised safety concerns about the late-night transfer decision, describing it as a “threat to her life.” The House panel cited “red flags” stemming from alleged undue interference by Duterte in the investigation, prompting the transfer.
The controversy stems from an ongoing probe into the disbursement of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure. Lopez was cited for contempt by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, leading to her detention.
Duterte has blamed House Speaker Martin Romualdez for the situation, saying, “All because we are in this [expletive] farce… All because Martin wants to be president.”
Lopez is expected to remain in her role until the hearings conclude.