MANILA, Philippines – The Senate impeachment court on Thursday, July 9, summoned Zuleika Lopez to appear in the impeachment trial of her boss, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lopez, Duterte’s chief of staff, was asked to appear before the impeachment court on Tuesday, July 13, and Wednesday, July 14, at 2 pm. The summons was signed by Senate impeachment court presiding officer Chiz Escudero.

The impeachment court is expected to continue next week the hearing on Duterte’s alleged threats to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.

On Thursday morning, the same day the summons was released, Lopez made a surprise appearance in the Senate.

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., who also serves as impeachment clerk of court, said he met with Lopez to discuss “administrative matters” but not Duterte’s case. Lopez did not grant media interviews except to say, “Good morning everyone. Prepare for Typhoon Inday.”  

Lopez was referring to Typhoon Inday (Bavi) which was expected to trigger rain in parts of the country beginning today. The Vice President is also known by her nickname “Inday Sara.”

In a midnight briefing on November 23, 2024, Duterte said she had already asked someone to kill the Marcos couple and Romualdez in case she were to die. Zuleika was present in that press briefing.

At that time, Lopez was detained in the House of Representative after being cited in contempt by the House committee on good government during its investigation into Duterte’s alleged misuse of funds in the Office of the Vice President and in the Department of Education, when she was the education chief.

– Rappler.com