Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - House prosecutor Joel Chua of Manila on Saturday highlighted the prosecution’s opening presentation on Article I of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.Chua at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City said two witnesses from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) established that seven checks totaling ₱612.5 million were drawn from public funds and encashed.The Senate Impeachment Court last Wednesday began hearing the prosecution’s evidence on Article I, which alleges the misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of confidential funds, after concluding its presentation on Article IV, which concerns Duterte’s alleged grave threats.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/31/sara-duterte-s-spouse-questions-release-of-their-tax-records-1101">Sara Duterte&#x27;s spouse Mans Carpio says release of their tax records should undergo &#x27;judicial review&#x27; </a> </div>“Noong Wednesday po, ’yung una po naming dalawang testigo na ipinresenta ay ’yung dalawang testigo na naging department manager or branch manager ng dalawang LandBank branches,” he said.The two witnesses were retired LandBank officials Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camposano, who headed the bank’s Shaw Boulevard and Department of Education (DepEd) branches, respectively.Constantino testified on four ₱125-million checks payable to Office of the Vice President Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta. Camposano testified on three ₱37.5-million checks payable to DepEd Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda. The two sets totaled ₱500 million and ₱112.5 million, respectively.“Dito po napatunayan po natin, unang-una, ’yung pondo ay galing po sa public fund,” Chua said.The first witnesses established the checks’ processing and encashment, but did not testify on where the cash went after leaving their branches or how it was ultimately spent. Those questions remain for succeeding witnesses and documentary evidence.Chua said Acosta encashed the OVP checks and was accompanied at the Shaw Boulevard branch by Lemuel Ortonio. Fajarda encashed the DepEd checks. “Ang nag-withdraw po sa OVP, si Ms. Gina Acosta, kasama si Lemuel Ortonio … at dito naman po sa DepEd, si Mr. Edward Fajarda bilang Special Disbursing Officer,” he said.Chua also recalled the terms that surfaced while senator-judges questioned the former bankers.“Dito nasaksihan din natin ’yung mga naglabasang salita na ‘unusual,’ ‘suspicious.’ Iyon po ’yung mga laging matunog na kataga na nabanggit during the time na nagtatanong po ang ating mga senador,” he said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/29/wrap-bank-officers-quizzed-on-large-cash-withdrawals-by-duterte-s-offices-2208">WRAP: Bank officers quizzed on large cash withdrawals by Duterte’s offices</a></div>Chua said the distinction is significant: Constantino described the scale of the OVP cash encashments as unusual, but clarified that the bank did not classify them as suspicious. Camposano likewise characterized the ₱37.5-million encashments as unusual for DepEd. Neither description by itself amounted to a finding that the transactions were unlawful.The trial is set to continue Monday, when the prosecution expects the next phase of its Article I evidence. Chua said three additional persons have been subpoenaed: two from the Commission on Audit and one from the House archives.“By Monday, magtutuloy na naman po ’yung ating usapin dito sa impeachment trial at mayroon na po tayong tatlong sina-subpoena. Dalawa po ay galing sa COA at ’yung isa naman po sa archive,” he said.Chua said one of the COA witnesses is a former state auditor and the other is the current state auditor. Their presentation is expected to move the case from the mechanics of encashment toward the official examination of the confidential-fund records, subject to the impeachment court’s rulings.“Buong ₱125 million, apat na beses winithdraw; at dito naman po sa DepEd, tatlong beses na worth ₱37.5 million ay winithdraw in cold cash,” Chua said.

House prosecutor Joel Chua of Manila on Saturday highlighted the prosecution’s opening presentation on Article I of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

House prosecutor Joel Chua of Manila on Saturday highlighted the prosecution’s opening presentation on Article I of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Sara Duterte impeachment trial: LandBank witnesses say ₱612.5M in public funds encashed

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Sara Duterte impeachment trial: LandBank witnesses say ₱612.5M in public funds encashed

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 01, 2026 05:35 PM PHT

Read More:

Landbank

Sara Duterte

Impeachment case

Joel Chua

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