(Left) OVP chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez and special disbursing officer Gina Acosta (PPAB)

Ranking lawmakers advised officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) currently staying at a medical facility to spill the truth in the ongoing inquiry into the alleged misuse of public funds to rid themselves of the “stress” affecting their health.

Following the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday, Nov. 25, two OVP officials who served as resource persons ended up getting confined at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).

Specifically, OVP Chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez and special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta are both staying at the particular hospital. Based on reports, their health concerns were linked to anxiety attacks.

“Magpagaling po sila, we wish them well para po makabalik na sila at masagot na nila ‘yung mga tanong na importante po sa committee,” said La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega in a press conference on Tuesday.

(Let’s hope they get better, we wish them well so that they can come back and answer the questions that are important to the committee.)

“Wala naman po sigurong ibang rason kung bakit sila ay may nararamdaman,” he noted.

(There is probably no other reason why they are feeling something.)

Both Lopez and Acosta are central figures in the congressional inquiry on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) under Vice President Sara Duterte’s term as secretary.

Ortega, a deputy majority leader, posited that the two officials would be able to give clearer answers if they no longer have the “stress” of preventing themselves from telling the truth.

However, Ortega clarified that he was not a medical practitioner.

“Sabi nga nila, ‘pag nagsasabi ka ng katotohanan…the truth will set you free,” Ortega said.

(People say, when you tell the truth...the truth will set you free.)

The lawmaker specifically cited the case of retired police colonel Royina Garma, who earlier testified about the existence of a reward system in the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

He observed that after initially feeling unease, Garma was seen as more “relaxed” and cooperative after she disclosed her bombshell testimony.

“Nakakagaan po ng pakiramdam ang pagsasabi ng katotohanan (Telling the truth relieves us from stress),” added Ortega.

‘Concealing the truth’

According to the House panel chair Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, Lopez is set to remain at the VMMC because of acute stress disorder.

Meanwhile, Chua said there is still no report on the latest condition of Acosta, who was taken to the VMMC on Monday evening.

The panel, also referred to as the House Blue Ribbon Committee, reported that Acosta’s blood pressure spiked to 150/100, prompting immediate medical assistance.

The official’s emergency situation came almost two hours into her grueling interpellation by Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro.

Chua on Tuesday said he noticed how Acosta had a hard time answering Luistro’s questions.

“In fact, there were two instances yata na halos maluha-luha po siya,” the congressman shared.

(In fact, I think there were two instances where she was almost in tears.)

“So, it‘s either hindi niya po alam ‘yung talaga kaniyang responsibilidad as SDO at do’n niya lamang nare-realize na may mali sa kaniyang ginawa or mayroon po siyang pinagtatakpan na katotohanan na hindi po niya masabi-sabi,” he asserted.

(So, it's either she doesn't know what her responsibility as SDO is and only then did she realized that there is something wrong with what she did or she is concealing a truth that she cannot divulge.)

During Monday’s hearing, Acosta told the panel that she essentially entrusted the OVP’s P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Achico, the head of the Vice President’s security group.