OVP: Travel of chief of staff approved by Sara

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has confirmed that its chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, left the country for a “personal” trip and will be back by mid-November. 

According to the OVP, Lopez’ travel overseas is from November 4 to 16, 2024, and was approved by Vice President Sara Duterte herself. 

“The OVP Chief of Staff’s travel was personal and unrelated to her employment with the OVP. Usec. Lopez appropriately submitted documents required of traveling government officials, which were approved by the Vice President,” Duterte’s office said in a statement. 

On Tuesday, the House good government and public accountability committee said it received records from the Bureau of Immigration that show Lopez reached the immigration gates at 7:31 p.m. November 4. She was on Philippine Airlines flight PR 102, which was headed to Los Angeles.

The House panel earlier issued a subpoena ad testificandum to Lopez and six other OVP officials for refusing to attend the probe on how their office used its budget, including confidential funds.

All the seven OVP officials, including Duterte’s chief of staff, skipped Tuesday’s hearing, prompting the committee to reissue a subpoena to the group for the last time.

If they still refuse to attend the inquiry, the OVP officials will be cited in contempt, which carries a corresponding detention order.

The OVP, meanwhile, said that claims about Lopez’ travel were “unfounded and unnecessary.”

“Speculations about the purpose of this travel are unfounded and unnecessary. We request to respect the privacy of the family on this difficult time,” it added.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News