Zuleika Lopez arrives at Senate

Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez on Thursday arrived at the Senate, a day after the impeachment court ordered the issuance of a subpoena against her in relation with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senate Secretary and Clerk of Court Renato Bantug Jr. said Lopez visited his office for a coordination meeting on matters that were "mainly administrative" including room assignments, staff access, and has no relation to the impeachment case, according to a report of dzBB Super Radyo's Nimfa Ravelo.

Atty. Zuleika Lopez, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the Philippines, nasa Senado ngayon; tumangging magbigay ng pahayag sa inilabas na subpoena ad testificandum laban sa kanya. | via @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/1sN0rcEG2L

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 9, 2026

"Prepare for Typhoon Inday," Lopez said in a separate interview when asked for the purpose of her visit.

During the third day of Duterte's impeachment proceedings on Wednesday, House prosecutor and Iloilo Representative Lorenz Defensor informed the Senate impeachment court that they will present the Vice President's long-time aide as one of their witnesses next week.

This comes after the defense argued that Lopez’s detention in the House of Representatives and transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women in 2024 prompted Duterte to issue threats against President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and members of his family.

Lopez will take the stand on Tuesday, July 14. She will testify on Article 4 of the Articles of Impeachment which accuses the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and contracting betrayed public trust by contracting for the assassination of the President and his family members by making grave threats, and by actively inciting sedition against the republic.

Subpoena yet to be served

In a chance interview, Bantug reiterated he met Lopez as chief-of-staff of the OVP. Among the issues they discussed during the open-door meeting were the number of allocated seats for the guests of the defense team, as well as the security protocols should Duterte visit the Senate again. Lopez also asked if their camp can bring their own equipment and media team during the trial.

Bantug said Lopez asked for the meeting two days ago.

"Housekeeping. Nothing to do with my Clerk of Court duties. It was me meeting them more as a Secretary of the Senate...Nothing about the case was discussed,"

Meanwhile, Bantug said Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero has signed the subpoena against Lopez but it has yet to be served.

"It was signed by the presiding officer last night. I had to copy this morning. The subpoena is ready to be serve at any moment," he said.

"Definitely within the day, the chief-of-staff will be receiving the subpoena," Bantug added. — RSJ, GMA News