VP SARA AIDE FACES ARREST
VICE President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez has been warned of arrest if she continues to disregard the panel’s summons.
Members of the House Committee on Good Government and Accountability expressed hope that Lopez would show up in the continuation of their inquiry on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds of OVP and the Department of Education when VP Duterte was its secretary.
Committee vice chairman Rep. Jay Khonghun of Zambales said they have information that the OVP official has already returned from the United States, where she attended to an emergency involving her aunt.
“Ang balita ng komite is dumating na siya. So ine-expect natin sa Wednesday a-attend na siya dahil nga nakatanggap na siya ng subpoena,” Khonghun said.
For his part, Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega reminded Lopez that she promised to honor the committee’s repeated invitation after her US trip.
“‘Yung reply letter naman niya nanduon she indicated na she will be back…sa (Nov.) 14th. Pero kailangan na i-honor niya iyon kasi napakahalaga niya po sa mga hearing na ito kasi siya po ang nagre-release (ng confidential funds) eh,” he said.
“Mas marami po siyang masasagot na importanteng katanungan and hopefully she will shed light dito sa anomalya na nahanap po ng good government committee,” he added.
Last week, the committee chaired by Manila Rep. Joel Chua, cited four OVP officers for contempt and ordered their arrest and detention for their repeated defiance of subpoenas for them to attending its inquiry.
Lopez got a reprieve upon the motion of Deputy Speaker David Suarez, with the committee giving her a last chance to show up on Wednesday or face the same penalty as her colleagues.
Those cited for contempt and ordered detained were Gina Acosta, OVP special disbursing officer; Lemuel Ortonio, OVP assistant chief of staff and Bids and Awards Committee chairman; Sunshine Fajarda, former DepEd assistant secretary; and her husband Edward Fajarda, former DepEd special disbursing officer.
