House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco confirmed that all procedures in handling the detention and medical treatment of Office of the Vice President Chief-of-Staff Zuleika Lopez were properly executed. The statement came in response to questions and concerns about how the situation was managed.
On November 23, 2024, at approximately 2:29 a.m., Atty. Zuleika Lopez began showing symptoms of a medical emergency. These symptoms included vomiting and indications of a panic attack. Within minutes, by 2:35 a.m., her doctor was given access to assess her condition. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance arrived from the Quezon City Police District. By 3:08 a.m., Lopez was on her way to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). Velasco emphasized that allegations of a delayed response were not accurate.
Upon her arrival at VMMC, Lopez was reported to be in stable condition. She was later transferred to St. Luke’s Medical Center for further evaluation. After receiving a comprehensive medical assessment, she returned to VMMC later that Saturday. Velasco assured that Lopez received adequate medical care and her safety was always a priority, with representatives from the House accompanying her throughout the process.
Velasco addressed claims about restricted access for Lopez’s lawyers, stating that such accusations were incorrect. There were no refusals in allowing legal representation to reach Lopez during her detention.
Concerns over the handling of Lopez’s situation arose when reports suggested there might have been some lapses in protocol. These concerns prompted an official statement from Velasco to clarify what transpired. He reiterated that from the onset of the medical emergency to the provision of medical care, all actions were in line with established procedures.