Sara Duterte thanks people who aided Zuleika Lopez, OVP amid recent 'crisis'

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday expressed gratitude to people, including healthcare workers and senators, who aided her office amid the recent "crisis."

"Nagpapasalamat ang Tanggapan ng Pangalawang Pangulo sa lahat ng mga tumulong, sumuporta, at nagpaabot ng pakikiisa at pagdamay sa opisina nang humarap ito sa krisis at kagipitan kamakailan," the OVP statement read.

(The Office of the Vice President expresses gratitude to everyone who helped, supported, and extended their solidarity and compassion during the crisis faced by the office recently.)

Among those that Duterte mentioned were the doctors and healthcare personnel who took care of the OVP officers who needed medical assistance and lawyers who monitored the situation round the clock to extend possible legal assistance to their employees.

Duterte made special mention to her allies, Senators Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Bong Go, and Imee Marcos— the President's sister.

"Salamat din kay Senador Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa na sinamahan si Usec Zuleika Lopez sa ospital buong araw noong November 23, 2024 sa Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). Salamat din kay Senador Bong Go na humalili kay VP Sara Duterte," the OVP statement read.

(Thank you as well to Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa for accompanying Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) all day on November 23, 2024. Thanks also to Senator Bong Go for stepping in for Vice President Sara Duterte.)

"At kay Senador Imee Marcos na tiniyak na mayroong DILG order para payagan si VP Sara Duterte at Senador Bato Dela Rosa  na magbantay ng pasyente sa VMMC," it further read.

(Thanks also to Senator Imee Marcos who ensured that there is a DILG order allowing VP Sara Duterte and Senator Bato Dela Rosa to monitor our patients at VMMC.)

Moreover, the OVP thanked the media for "exposing the state of the country."

"Maraming salamat din sa media sa tuloy-tuloy na pagsisiwalat sa kalagayan ng bansa — sa pagbabantay laban sa kawalan ng hustisya, pandarahas at pag-uulat sa sinapit ng mga tauhan ng OVP at sa walang takot na malayang pamamahayag," the OVP said.

(Thank you very much to the media for their continuously exposing the state of the nation — for monitoring the lack of justice, violence, and reporting on the experiences of OVP personnel, as well as for their fearless commitment to free expression.)

The OVP issued the statement days after Lopez, Duterte's chief of staff, left the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

Lopez had been confined at the VMMC from November 23 to 30 after she fell ill following the panel's decision to remove her from the House detention facility and transfer her to the Correctional Institution for Women in the middle of the night.

Duterte accompanied Lopez since the latter's detention at the House of Representatives.

Lopez was ordered detained on November 20 after she was cited in contempt for her supposed "undue interference" in the panel’s investigation into the confidential funds of the offices held by the Vice President.

She also gave "evasive" responses during the probe, according to the panel.

Lopez earlier told the committee that she had no knowledge of how the OVP utilized its confidential funds, saying her role in the office is only to oversee the institutionalization and implementation of all the socioeconomic projects of the office.

In Lopez’s defense, Duterte said that her chief of staff had no knowledge about the matter being questioned. —AOL, GMA Integrated News