House orders OVP's Zuleika Lopez to return to VMMC

The House of Representatives has ordered the return of Office of the Vice President chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez from St. Luke’s Medical Center to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City, the Philippine National Police said Saturday.

"We are going to transport Asec. Leika from St. Luke's hospital to Veterans hospital. This is in compliance with the directive of the House of Representatives to Major General Napoleon Taas as the Sergeant-at-Arms," PNP- Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said in a media briefing.

In a footage shared by GMA Integrated News' Jonathan Andal, Lopez was seen in tears as she embraced Vice President Sara Duterte while being served her transfer order by Torre.

Also present was Duterte's ally Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.

"NATATAKOT AKO"

Humahagulgol si OVP Usec Zuleika Lopez habang nakayakap kay VP Sara Duterte at sinilsilbihan ng transfer order ni CIDG chief BGen Nicolas Torre III.

Mula sa St Luke's Medical Center inilipat si Lopez sa Veterans Memorial Medical Center @gmanews pic.twitter.com/Ads5pgBl13

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) November 23, 2024

Lopez was already brought to the VMMC early Saturday as she was set to be transferred to the  Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) from the House detention facility. 

She previously expressed concern about the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability's decision to remove her from the House detention facility in the middle of the night.

"This is a threat to my life," she said.

Lopez was later transferred to St. Luke's Medical Center.

She was ordered detained at the lower chamber after she was cited in contempt for her supposed "undue interference" of an ongoing probe on the disbursement of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education under Duterte.

Chief-of-staff ni VP Sara Duterte na si Atty. Zuleika Lopez, nakabalik na ng Veterans Memorial Medical Center mula St. Luke’s Medical Center | @dzbb @gmanews pic.twitter.com/mfmfOjdMo4

— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) November 23, 2024

Lopez's camp arrived at the VMMC at around 1:30 p.m.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News