OVP Chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez (PPAB)

Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez is in “good shape” following her detention at the House of Representatives, according to House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas. 

Lopez, who has been detained since Wednesday, Nov. 20, was initially taken to Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for a medical check-up following reports of her vomiting and collapsing.

This was after the official was informed of her transfer order to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW).

According to Taas, a doctor from the Philippine National Police (PNP) who accompanied the OVP official to the VMMC reported that medical tests on her revealed no alarming findings. He noted that all results came back “normal”.

“Ang resulta po ay normal ang lahat ng kanyang vital signs, pati na ang ECG (electrocardiogram). Kaya po nagtataka kami kung bakit kinakailangan pa siyang ilipat at ipa-check sa St. Luke’s [Medical Center],” Taas said.

(The results show that her vital signs, including the ECG, are normal. That's why we are puzzled as to why she still needs to be transferred and checked at St. Luke’s Medical Center.)

“Perhaps second opinion, just for added peace of mind. But ang last na report po sa atin ng PNP doctor is normal ang condition (But the last report we received from the PNP doctor is that her condition is normal). She is in pretty good shape,” he continued.

After being cleared by her doctors at St. Luke’s, Lopez returned to the VMMC following a transfer order from the House.

The order noted that this is “consistent with standard practice of the House of Representatives to entrust detainees to government facilities.”

Lopez—a trusted aide of the Vice President—has been detained since she was cited for contempt due to “undue interference” in the ongoing probe into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds by Duterte.

She was set to be detained at the House premises for five days—or until the next hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Nov. 25.

Taas further noted that the initial observation from the attending PNP doctor attributed a panic attack as a possible cause of Lopez’s distress.

“I cannot confirm [because] I’m not a doctor, but from the reports we got, also specifically from the PNP doctor, para pong panic attack ang observation (it seems like a panic attack based on the observation),” he pointed out.

Concerns over Lopez’s mental state also surfaced after reports alleged that she had taken a ballpoint pen during an incident.

Suicidal tendencies?

However, Taas dismissed any indications of suicidal tendencies based on regular assessments conducted by House personnel.

“Daily po natin tsine-check ‘yun—twice a day po natin kinukuha ‘yung vitals for us to get the opportunity na i-assess ‘yung ating detainees kung meron bang suicidal tendencies,” he explained.

(We check that daily—twice a day we take their vitals for us to get the opportunity to assess our detainees for any suicidal tendencies.)

“And as regards to Atty. Lopez, wala po tayong report from all those on duty. Nagre-report po ng regular basis ‘yun. Wala pong suicidal tendencies,” he added. 

(And as regards to Atty. Lopez, we don't have any reports from all those on duty. They report on a regular basis. There are no suicidal tendencies.)