The drama at the House of Representatives involving the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) and Department of Education’s (DepEd) confidential funds use has already sent three of Vice President Sara Duterte’s aides to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for anxiety attacks.
(From left) OVP Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez and Special Disbursement Officer Gina Acosta (PPAB/House of Representatives)
Aside from Duterte’s chief of staff, OVP Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, who is currently confined at the VMMC after suffering from a panic attack last Saturday, Nov. 23, a certain “Nicole” from the OVP and OVP Special Disbursement Officer Gina Acosta also needed medical attention.
Acosta faced the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday, Nov. 25, but was seen being wheeled out from the Batasang Pambansa at around 6:13 p.m. and was rushed to the Veterans hospital.
During a media briefing at the VMMC on Tuesday, Nov. 26, Duterte said Acosta’s blood pressure went up to 150/100 at the hearing and then lost consciousness.
“At the ER (Emergency Room), she was unresponsive…pero she was okay,” the official shared, noting Acosta underwent CT-scan and is now confined at the hospital.
During the hearing, the OVP officer testified that she turned over an entire P125 million worth of the OVP’s confidential funds to a certain “Colonel Lachica,” the head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).
Meanwhile, the Vice President mentioned in a press briefing at the VMMC on Monday before heading to the House hearing that Nicole also suffered a combined asthma and panic attack.
“Noong medyo nag okay na si Usec. Lopez, nag breakdown naman iyong kasama namin na nandun din noong Saturday and Friday, si Nicole nagsimula siyang mag-panic attack (When Usec. Lopez was already okay, Nicole, who was with us last Saturday and Friday, also started having panic attack),” Duterte said.
“Hindi na siya makahinga. Then, nagsimula na siyang umiyak. Tapos naninigas na. So, nagtawag na kami ng doctor at nurse ulit (She couldn’t breathe anymore. Then, she started crying. Then, her body stiffened. So, we called a doctor and nurse again),” she added.
It is not clear what is Nicole's designation at the OVP.
The Vice President also gave an update about the health condition of Lopez, saying that her chief of staff has not eaten.
“Walang iyak (No crying) today. Kausap niya ang mama nya. Dumating din ang best friend nya mula sa Davao City (She talked to her mom. Her best friend arrived from Davao City),” Duterte noted.
Duterte said the OVP officials fell ill because they were "terrorized" by congressmen at the hearing.
"Of course, magkakasakit talaga ang tao na hinaharass mo, tine-terrorize mo. Ako lang ang hindi nagkakasakit dahil pulitiko ako (a person whom you harass, terrorize, would really get sick. I'm the only one who's not getting sick because I'm a politician)," she said.
Lopez was detained last Nov. 21 and was supposed to stay only for five days until the House panel extended it to 10 days for “undue interference.” She admitted to lawmakers trying to influence the Commission on Audit (COA) on sending the OVP’s audit reports to the House committee.
In a letter to the committee dated Nov. 24, Lopez explained her absence in the hearing.
“As you may have been made aware, yesterday, 23 November 2024, I was admitted and confined in the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and was subsequently diagnosed with acute stress disorder following the series of incidents leading to my eventual transfer to the said government facility," Lopez wrote.
"In connection with the same, I am sincerely and humbly hoping for the kind consideration of this Honorable Committee in excusing my appearance for tomorrow's hearing," she added.
Attached to the letter was a copy of the Certificate of Confinement signed by doctors at the VMMC indicating her condition.
The certification said that Lopez is currently admitted at the VMMC and is being treated for Acute Stress Disorder.