The Senate impeachment court issued a subpoena to Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff for the Office of the Vice President, to testify in Manila [1].
The order marks a critical escalation in the proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Because Lopez serves as the chief of staff, her testimony is expected to provide the House prosecution with direct insight into the inner workings of the vice presidency.
The subpoena ad testificandum was served on Thursday [1], occurring during the first week of the impeachment trial. The court's mandate requires Lopez to appear before the Senate chamber to provide evidence and testimony relevant to the charges brought against the vice president [2].
Legal representatives for the House prosecution identified Lopez as a key witness for their case [2]. The prosecution said it aims to use her testimony to establish a factual record of the events and decisions under scrutiny during the trial [3].
The Senate impeachment court continues to hear evidence as part of the constitutional process to determine the vice president's fitness for office. The timing of the subpoena suggests the prosecution is moving quickly to secure testimony from high-ranking officials who managed the daily operations of the office [1].
As the trial progresses in the Senate chamber, the focus remains on whether the witness's testimony will uncover evidence that supports the articles of impeachment. The court has not yet released a specific schedule for when Lopez will take the stand, though the subpoena has been officially served [2].
“The Senate impeachment court issued a subpoena to Zuleika Lopez.”
The subpoena of a chief of staff typically indicates that the prosecution is attempting to bridge the gap between circumstantial evidence and direct administrative accountability. By targeting the individual responsible for the Vice President's daily operations, the House prosecution is seeking to establish a chain of command and decision-making that could either validate or refute the impeachment charges.
