MANILA – Leaders of the House of Representatives on Thursday downplayed a remark made by former Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez urging the public to “prepare for Typhoon Inday” ahead of her scheduled testimony in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Lopez made the statement during an ambush interview at the Senate on Thursday, where she is expected to appear as one of the House prosecution’s witnesses when the impeachment trial resumes next week.

Asked to comment during a press briefing, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union responded with a sarcastic remark, saying it was the other side that should be prepared.

“Oo, maghanda rin sila kasi usually ‘pag bagyo wala sila. Kaya baka maghanda rin po sila. Nakahanda naman po kaming lahat (Yes, they should also prepare because usually, whenever there’s a storm, they are missing. That’s why they should also prepare because we are prepared),” Ortega said.

For her part, impeachment prosecutor and House Assistant Majority Leader San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora said she took Lopez’s statement at face value.

“Totoo naman pong may bagyong Inday, so maghanda po tayo para sa bagyo (There is really a Typhoon Inday, so we must prepare for the typhoon),” Zamora said.

The House prosecution is set to continue presenting its evidence on Monday, beginning with the testimony of National Bureau of Investigation regional director Jeremy Lotoc.

Lopez is expected to testify later in the week on matters related to the fourth Article of Impeachment, which accuses Duterte of making grave threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

As Duterte’s former chief of staff, Lopez is expected to testify on matters within her personal knowledge that are relevant to the prosecution’s presentation of evidence on the charge.

Her remark about “Typhoon Inday” also came amid speculation that Duterte may return to the Senate during next week’s impeachment proceedings.

The Vice President previously went to the Senate on the second day of the trial to meet with her defense lawyers but did not appear before the Senate impeachment court while the House prosecution continued presenting its evidence.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Inday, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility earlier this week as a super typhoon, weakened into a typhoon on Thursday as it continued moving west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea, according to the weather bureau.

Despite its weakening, the cyclone, along with the enhanced southwest monsoon, may still bring strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rainfall to several parts of the country.