‘Prepare for Typhoon Inday,' says VP’s aide during Senate visit

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, visited the Senate on Thursday, a day after a subpoena for Lopez had been granted by the impeachment court.

It is the House prosecution panel of Duterte’s impeachment trial who listed Lopez as a witness for Duterte’s alleged assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

When approached by the media, Lopez refused to answer questions, and unprompted, she said: “Prepare for Typhoon Inday.”

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READ: Zuleika Lopez among prosecution’s witnesses in impeachment trial

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While a typhoon named “Inday” is currently being monitored in the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the vice president also goes by the name of “Inday” to her supporters.

In a later interview with the impeachment clerk of court, Renato Bantug, he confirmed that Lopez visited him in an “open-door meeting” for administrative and logistical matters alone, which was scheduled two days prior.

Lopez asked Bantug how many guests the defense team could have during the trial, to which Bantug said the court has already assigned 45 seats.

According to Bantug, Lopez had also asked if the Office of the Vice President could deploy its own media personnel for the proceedings.

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Bantug also clarified that “it would not be proper” to discuss with Lopez the subpoena that the court has issued against her.

Duterte is in the middle of an impeachment trial at the Senate, acting as a court, for grave threats and inciting to sedition, following her claims of an assassination plot.

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The impeachment court will also tackle Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and bribery of Department of Education officials. /das

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