MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has approved the overseas travel of her office’s chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, for personal reasons.
In a statement sent to Panay News, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed that Lopez left the country on November 4 and will be back by the 16th.
“The OVP Chief of Staff’s travel was personal and unrelated to her employment with the OVP. Usec. Lopez appropriately submitted documents required of traveling government officials, which were approved by the Vice President,” the OVP said.
The OVP added that unverified claims about Lopez’s travel were “unfounded and unnecessary.”
“Speculations about the purpose of this travel are unfounded and unnecessary. We request to respect the privacy of the family on this difficult time,” it said.
The House of Representatives’ good government and public accountability committee on Tuesday received records from the Bureau of Immigration that show Lopez reached the immigration gates at 7:31 p.m. November 4.
The House panel earlier issued a subpoena ad testificandum to Lopez and six other OVP officials for refusing to attend the probe on how their office used its budget, including confidential funds.
All the seven OVP officials, including Lopez, skipped Tuesday’s hearing, prompting the committee to reissue a subpoena to the group for the last time.
If they still refuse to attend the inquiry, the OVP officials will be cited in contempt, which carries a corresponding detention order./PN
