Jamaine Punzalan

Counsel for prosecutors Lorna Kapunan on August 5, 2026. Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Jaehwa Bernardo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178641757505520260806-senate-impeachment-day13-SSMU-VD5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Counsel for prosecutors Lorna Kapunan on August 5, 2026. Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The prosecution and defense panels in Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial failed to reach an agreement on a meeting to compare acknowledgment receipts (ARs) related to the audit of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).</p><p>&quot;Na-Indian po kami,&quot; prosecution lawyer Lorna Kapunan said Tuesday during the continuation of the trial, using a Filipino slang expression meaning that their side was stood up by the defense.</p><p>Kapunan recalled that their side texted the defense on Wednesday to ask when the two parties could meet on Thursday or Friday, but did not receive a reply.</p><p>The defense did not respond until “the end of office hours” on Thursday, proposing to meet on August 14, beyond the two dates suggested by the impeachment court, Kapunan said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ae7QcHfg9M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Last Wednesday, trial presiding officer Francis Escudero directed the two parties to meet on Thursday, August 6, or Friday, August 7, to compare the ARs, which the defense had declined to stipulate to. </div><p>Kapunan said the prosecution also approached the defense an hour before Tuesday&#x27;s trial to compare the documents.</p><p>&quot;Again, they refused. No need daw kasi pakitaan na lang ng summaries [&#x27;yong witness],&quot; Kapunan said.</p><p>Kapunan stressed that the &quot;attitude&quot; of the defense counsels were &quot;not new,&quot; recalling that during the pre-trial conference, they also refused to stipulate because the two parties did not agree on the cover page of the documents.</p><p>Responding to Kapunan, defense lawyer Kristine Ferrer said the &quot;authenticity&quot; of the documents &quot;is something that the court will have to decide.&quot;</p><p>&quot;There’s no need for us to actually compare the exhibits just so we can arrive at a stipulation that this and that are the same,&quot; Ferrer said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RhwiVKVRrFM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Escudero decided that both parties should just &quot;furnish the court with a copy of the marked pieces of evidence during pretrial.&quot;</div><p>&quot;In lieu of meeting, kindly just submit that... so we (senator-judges) can do the comparisons ourselves,&quot; he said.</p><p>Escudero said state auditor Xylene del Campo, who serves as the witness in the hearing, could still testify based on her summary or tabulation of the ARs.</p><p>Addressing Kapunan, Escudero also said in jest, “Hindi ka, Atty. Lorna, in-Indian, baka ghinost ka, kasi hindi ka sinagot eh,” using the more modern term &quot;ghosting&quot; to refer to someone abruptly ceasing communication without explanation or warning. </p><p>The court is currently hearing allegations that Duterte misused hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds under the OVP and DepEd. <strong>— With a report from Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NsdPGSZ25Dk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The prosecution and defense panels in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial failed to reach an agreement on a meeting to compare acknowledgment receipts (ARs) related to the audit of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).</p>

The prosecution and defense panels in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial failed to reach an agreement on a meeting to compare acknowledgment receipts (ARs) related to the audit of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

'Na-Indian po kami': Impeachment prosecution, defense fail to meet over receipts

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

'Na-Indian po kami': Impeachment prosecution, defense fail to meet over receipts

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 11, 2026 11:08 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Lorna Kapunan

Kristine Ferrer

Francis Escudero

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.