Lawyer Zuleika Lopez, the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), showed up Wednesday at the resumption of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s investigation on the funds of the OVP.
In a brief statement, Lopez thanked the committee members for understanding the reasons for her absence in the previous hearings. The OVP official recently stated that she had to travel to the United States to attend to a medical emergency involving her aunt.
“I’d like to begin with a word of gratitude to the honorable members of the committee for the grant of understanding… my recent travel to the US due to a medical emergency of an immediate family member,” she said.
“I do want to let you know that the worst is not over yet for my relative, but the family is expecting, of course, the best possible outcome. Having said that, I do want to extend my appreciation and my entire family is really very appreciative of this act of kindness that was extended to me during this time,” Lopez added.
The OVP official left the country on November 4 and arrived only last November 18. Lopez explained to lawmakers she only reported back to their office yesterday, November 19, after her leave of absence.
