Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Former Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Gina Acosta takes her oath as a hostile witness for the prosecution during the 16th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, August 17, 2026.

Acosta is expected to testify on the disbursement and handling of confidential funds during Duterte’s tenure as vice president. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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VP Sara Impeachment

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<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/178736618601420260817-senate-impeachment-gina-acosta-MT7.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Former Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Gina Acosta takes her oath as a hostile witness for the prosecution during the 16th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, August 17, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Gina Acosta takes her oath as a hostile witness for the prosecution 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>MANILA – The House prosecution panel is still weighing whether to put Ramil Madriaga on the witness stand, even as it assesses whether the testimony of former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta can already establish key parts of its case against Vice President Sara Duterte.</div><p>Prosecution member Rep. Teddy Ridon said the panel has yet to make a final decision on Madriaga, whose credibility has been repeatedly challenged by the defense.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/15/who-is-ramil-madriaga-1437"><strong>Who is Ramil Madriaga?</strong></a></div><p>“We&#x27;ve still yet to make a determination kung isasalang ba siya o hindi, in the similar manner na we’ll still decide if Mr. Lachica o Mr. Nolasco will still be presented. Wala namang mababawas sa defense para isalang si Mr. Mardriaga, kasama rin siya sa mga common witnesses namin,” Ridon said on DZMM TeleRadyo, Saturday morning. </p><p>The issue came after defense lawyer Paolo Panelo described Madriaga’s possible appearance as “the prosecution’s funeral,” saying the defense would tear him apart during cross-examination.</p><p>Duterte has also filed a second perjury complaint against Madriaga, accusing him of making false statements in a supplemental affidavit.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/sara-duterte-s-camp-to-seek-consolidation-of-perjury-complaints-vs-ramil-madriaga-1338"><strong>Sara Duterte’s camp to seek consolidation of perjury complaints vs Ramil Madriaga</strong></a></div><p>But Ridon questioned why Panelo was commenting on the prosecution’s witness strategy.</p><p>“Lagi kong sinasabi, hindi naman siya kasama sa defense panel. Bakit siya nagsasalita tungkol doon sa impeachment presentation of evidence?” Ridon said.</p><p>He added that Madriaga is also considered a common witness.</p><p>“Wala namang mababawas sa defense para isalang si Mr. Madriaga,” Ridon said. “Kung tingin talaga ni Atty. Panelo na makatutulong &#x27;yung sinasabi niya sa defense panel, edi sabihin niya sa defense panel. Huwag niya sabihin sa prosecution.”</p><p>The prosecution had previously sought Madriaga’s testimony during the House proceedings, where he made allegations involving Duterte. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOW STRONG IS ACOSTA&#x27;S TESTIMONY?<br/></strong></div><p>Ridon said the prosecution views Acosta&#x27;s testimony potentially sufficient to establish the alleged misuse of confidential funds, particularly her claim that Duterte ordered the release of P125 million to then-OVP security officer Col. Raymund Lachica.</p><p>“Kung ‘yung pagpapatunay sa confidential misuse ay ‘yung fact pa lang na talagang tinuro ni Ms. Acosta si Vice President Sara Duterte, na inutos ‘yung P125 million confidential funds ni Mr. Lachica, ‘yon pa lang sufficient proof na ‘yon nong misuse,” he said.</p><p>“‘Yan mismo ‘yung binabanggit ng notice of disallowance for 2023 na nagbigay po ng pera sa mga non-OVP personnel like Mr. Lachica,” he added. </p><p>Ridon said Acosta’s testimony in the impeachment trial has been consistent with her previous statements before the House of Representatives during the 19th Congress. </p><p>“Ang totoo, it really confirmed doon sa House proceedings noong 19th Congress na meroon talagang consistency ang statement ni Ms. Acosta, and more importantly, ‘yung kaniyang estado bilang hostile witness na meron talagang similar interest as Vice President,” Ridon said.</p><p>Acosta, a former special disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President, had previously testified during the House inquiry that after encashing the OVP’s confidential funds, she turned over the cash to then-Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group head Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, a military officer, allegedly upon the instruction of Vice President Duterte.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/prosecution-acosta-testimony-major-as-she-points-to-sara-duterte-1736"><strong>Prosecution: Acosta testimony ‘major’ as she points to Sara Duterte</strong></a></div><p>Meanwhile, former Department of Education special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda had also testified during the House proceedings that he turned over the DepEd confidential funds he withdrew to Col. Dennis Nolasco, then a security officer of the agency, allegedly upon Duterte’s instruction.</p><p>Acosta was declared a hostile witness by the Senate impeachment court on Aug. 17 after prosecutors sought to question her using leading questions. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘NOT YET FINISHED’</strong></div><p>Ridon said Acosta’s testimony is not yet finished.</p><p>“There are still many questions doon sa direct ni Atty. Ligutan na hindi pa po natanong,” he said.</p><p>The prosecution expects the next hearing to include extensive cross-examination by the defense, followed by questions from the senator-judges.</p><p>“We’re expecting an entire session of cross,” Ridon said, adding that Acosta could finish her testimony by Tuesday or Wednesday.</p><p>After Acosta, the prosecution expects to call Fajarda, who is expected to testify about the alleged transfer of confidential funds from the Department of Education to personnel who were not organic DepEd employees.</p><p>Ridon said the prosecution will then determine whether other witnesses, including Lachica and Nolasco, are still necessary.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/wrap-confidential-funds-released-to-ovp-security-chief-as-duterte-ordered-acosta-2027"><strong>WRAP: Confidential funds released to OVP security chief as Duterte ordered — Acosta</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ACCELERATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL</strong></div><p>The questions surrounding Acosta and Madriaga come as the prosecution pushes to accelerate the impeachment trial. </p><p>Ridon said the prosecution supports proposals to add hearing days and extend proceedings into the afternoon and evening.</p><p>The panel hopes to finish presenting its evidence by the end of September, in line with the broader target of completing the trial proceedings by November and reaching a decision by December.</p><p>But Ridon stressed that the prosecution does not want to sacrifice the quality of its evidence simply to meet a deadline.</p><p>“Wala naman kaming interes na madaliin for the sake of madaliin,” he said.</p><p>He rejected the characterization of the trial as a battle of competing narratives.</p><p>“This is not a battle of narrative, this is a battle of evidence,” Ridon said.</p><p>The House-approved impeachment case contains four articles involving allegations including the misuse and irregular liquidation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. </p><p>Ridon said the prosecution has yet to make a final decision on whether to drop Article 3, with bribery and unexplained wealth still in its planned sequence.</p><p>For now, the prosecution’s immediate focus, Ridon said, remains on the confidential-funds allegations and on whether Acosta’s testimony can withstand the scrutiny of the defense, or whether additional witnesses such as Madriaga will be needed to strengthen the case.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aQ5Rn_iUBgo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LWd9mMcTzY4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The House prosecution panel is still weighing whether to put Ramil Madriaga on the witness stand, even as it assesses whether the testimony of former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta can already establish key parts of its case against Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

The House prosecution panel is still weighing whether to put Ramil Madriaga on the witness stand, even as it assesses whether the testimony of former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta can already establish key parts of its case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Madriaga testimony still uncertain as prosecution weighs strength of Acosta’s evidence

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Madriaga testimony still uncertain as prosecution weighs strength of Acosta’s evidence

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 22, 2026 11:24 AM PHT

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Vice President Sara Duterte

Impeachment Trial

Confidential Funds

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