A house panel cited in contempt the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) over her letter which allegedly interferred with their investigation on the issue of the confidential funds.
Attorney Zuleika Lopez, Chief of Staff of the OVP on Wednesday attended the hearing of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to answer questions from lawmakers about the 2022 confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Lopez answered the questions from committee members but her reply did not sit well with some of the congressmen who found it evasive.
Representative France Castro took notice of Lopez’ letter to the Commission on Audit (COA)which mentioned the OVP’s request not to give copies of their documents to the House of Representatives.
According to Castro Lopez’ letter is tantamount to violating Section 11 of their house rules which state that “undue interferrence of their proceedings” is a ground for contempt citation.
Castro moved to cite Lopez in contempt, it was seconded and approved by the committee members.
While serving the contempt order Lopez stays inside the House of Representatives’ custodial facility it is automatically lifted on Monday November 25.
Other OVP and DepEd officials who are also under contempt but remains at large include: Lemuel Ortonio, Gina Acosta, Sunshine Fajarda, and Edward Fajarda.
An Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) has also been requested to be issued against the said officials.
The said officials have been summoned to explain how the Deped and the OVP spent the 2022 confidential funds amounting to P612M.Of these amount P125M was allegedly spent in just 11 days.
(Hrep photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.