Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

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/17875534798202-Composite (2) 5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Counsel for the prosecution Virgil Ligutan and former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The prosecution on Monday confronted Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President, on supposed “selective memory” and language difficulty during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. </p><p>Counsel for prosecutors Amando Ligutan, during redirect examination of Acosta, noted that the witness earlier testified to have forgotten details of Duterte&#x27;s confidential funds spending from 2019 to 2022, when she was still Davao City mayor. </p><p>Acosta also served as SDO for Duterte’s confidential funds in Davao City.</p><p>Earlier during direct examination, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/24/ovp-s-acosta-grilled-on-davao-city-confidential-funds-1100">Ligutan asked</a> Acosta if Davao City had received P460 million in confidential funds in 2019. </p><p>Acosta responded: &quot;Hindi ko maalala (I don&#x27;t remember).”</p><p>Ligutan however noted that during the defense’s questioning, Acosta managed to immediately answer that she did not receive a Notice of Disallowance for Davao City during the same time period. </p><p>“Alam niyo po ba yung tinatawag nating selective memory?” Ligutan asked Acosta. </p><p>The question prompted an objection from defense counsel Lindon Bacquel, who argued that the inquiry was “argumentative.”</p><p>Ligutan explained, in response: “When I was asking question, sabi niya conveniently hindi ko maalala. But when propounded with similar line of questioning as to event that happened in Davao City while she was SDO, she said yes, I can remember, diretsahan yung sagot.”</p><p>Trial presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero overruled the objection. </p><p>Acosta explained that her earlier response meant that she cannot recall the amount of confidential funds granted to Davao City.</p><p>“Ang ibig sabihin po kanina, Your Honor, ang amount po na sinabi niyo na yun po ba, yan ba ang halaga ng confidential funds ng Davao City, yun po nag-concentrate ako. Ang intindi ko, ang pagsagot ko, Your Honor, is yung the amount po. Hindi ko po maalala, Your Honor,” Acosta said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/24/acosta-says-she-relied-on-lachica-documents-to-verify-ovp-confidential-fund-use-1309">Acosta says she relied on Lachica, documents to verify OVP confidential fund use</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>LANGUAGE DIFFICULTY</strong></div><p>Ligutan further questioned Acosta’s supposed difficulty understanding Tagalog during his questioning, raising that she had no problem answering questions from defense in the same language. </p><p> “When it was the defense asking you, rapid, rapido, mabilis, Tagalog. All of a sudden nasasagot mo, walang translation, nasasagot mo ng diretso,” Ligutan told Acosta.</p><p>The defense moved to strike Ligutan’s statement from the record, arguing that the “counsel (prosecution) is testifying.” Escudero denied the motion. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH: </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uG0FvVm3xkU?si=KaKTuzCDMzeQiksY" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The prosecution on Monday confronted Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President, on supposed “selective memory” and language difficulty during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

The prosecution on Monday confronted Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President, on supposed “selective memory” and language difficulty during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Prosecution confronts Acosta on 'selective memory', language difficulty

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Prosecution confronts Acosta on 'selective memory', language difficulty

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 24, 2026 02:43 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Gina Acosta

confidential funds

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