Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Allison Co

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/1786958258724775336094_2875116679516247_1199880926334444137_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former OVP special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta answers questions from prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Liguitan, who presents &quot;prop money,&quot; during the 16th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, August 17, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — House prosecutors described the 16th day of the impeachment trial as an “important day” as their <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/when-is-a-witness-hostile-and-what-happens-when-they-are-1308">hostile witness</a> Gina Acosta pointed to Vice President Sara Duterte as the person who allegedly ordered the transfer of confidential funds in violation of established procedures.</p><p>House prosecutor Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list said Duterte staff member Acosta&#x27;s being a hostile witness makes it a &quot;major&quot; allegation.</p><p>“An employee of the [Office of the Vice President] saying to the court and to the nation na ang pangalawang pangulo ang nagbigay ng utos,” he said.</p><p>(An employee of the OVP saying to the court and the nation that the vice president gave the order.)</p><p>Acosta earlier testified that Duterte ordered her to transfer P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica in December 2022.</p><p>Lachica, former head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, is a military officer and not on the OVP staff.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/who-is-prosecution-s-first-hostile-witness-gina-acosta-1242">Who is prosecution’s first ‘hostile witness’ Gina Acosta?</a></div><p>COA witness Xylene Del Campo earlier testified that the transfer was a violation of the joint circular governing the use of confidential funds.</p><p>Atty. Jay Tolosa, House prosecution spokesperson, referenced Del Campo&#x27;s testimony that the transfer was &quot;a direct violation of the joint circular and...resulted to the issuance of a notice of disallowance.&quot;</p><p>Tolosa also said Acosta’s testimony on Monday was consistent with what she told the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability last November.</p><p>He said Acosta has had time since then &quot;to think about it and correct her statement&quot; if she had been wrong.</p><p>Aside from allegedly receiving orders from Duterte, Acosta also testified that the cash was transferred using four gym bags, similar to the testimony of self-confessed “bagman” Ramil Madriaga before the House in April 2025.</p><p>Tolosa said the prosecution is still assessing whether to call Madriaga as a witness.</p><p>Duterte filed a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/sara-duterte-files-fresh-perjury-complaint-vs-self-confessed-bagman-madriaga-1309">fresh perjury complaint</a> against Madriaga on Monday, a development that the prosecution panel said will not affect the decision on whether or not to call him to the witness stand.</p><p>As the impeachment trial enters its seventh week, the prosecution also said it would continue working to finish tackling the first article of impeachment within August.</p><p>However, Tolosa acknowledged there may be delays beyond the prosecution’s control.</p><p>Tolosa pointed to an earlier delay in the direct examination caused by Acosta’s seeming difficulty in understanding Filipino, contrasting this with House transcripts of her answers at the House last November.</p><p>“Kaya nga we’re very thankful dun sa naging <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/erwin-tulfo-questions-gina-acosta-s-language-barrier-claim-in-senate-impeachment-trial-1359">statement kanina ni Sen. (Erwin) Tulfo</a>… At after ma-call out dire-diretso na mag-Tagalog,” Tolosa added.</p><p>The prosecution’s direct examination of Acosta will continue on Tuesday, August 18.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NvUML1GTfXI?si=8iBu2fql0UAVwNEA" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>House prosecutors described the 16th day of the impeachment trial as an “important day” as their <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/when-is-a-witness-hostile-and-what-happens-when-they-are-1308">hostile witness</a> Gina Acosta pointed to Vice President Sara Duterte as the person who allegedly ordered the transfer of confidential funds in violation of established procedures.</p>

House prosecutors described the 16th day of the impeachment trial as an “important day” as their hostile witness Gina Acosta pointed to Vice President Sara Duterte as the person who allegedly ordered the transfer of confidential funds in violation of established procedures.

Prosecution: Acosta testimony ‘major’ as she points to Sara Duterte

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Prosecution: Acosta testimony ‘major’ as she points to Sara Duterte

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 17, 2026 05:36 PM PHT

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Updated August 17, 2026 05:38 PM PHT

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VP Impeachment

Prosecution

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