HOUSE PANEL ORDERS RELEASE OF VP SARA CHIEF OF STAFF

THE House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has ordered the release of Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez after 10 days in detention, mostly in a government hospital.

The House panel directed House Sergeant-at-Arms PMGen. Napoleon Taas to “immediately release” Lopez after a medical examination has been conducted.

House Blue Ribbon chair Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua signed the order and was attested to by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

“In view of the undertaking to attend all hearings, you are hereby ordered to immediately release attorney Zuleika T. Lopez after a medical examination has been conducted on her,” Chua said in the release order dated Nov. 30.

Lopez was cited in contempt for undue interference during the Nov. 20 hearing and was ordered detained at the House detention facility. She was moved from House to hospital after suffering from panic attack.

Chua’s committee is investigating the alleged misuse of P500 million in confidential funds of the OVP and P112.5 million of the Department of Education (DepEd) under the leadership of VP Sara Duterte.