Camille Naredo

Senator judges on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, raised clarificatory questions on the validity and sufficiency of documents used to justify the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte. Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

Senator judges on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, raised clarificatory questions on the validity and sufficiency of documents used to justify the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte.
During Day 13 of the impeachment trial, they examined whether acknowledgment receipts met audit standards and asked former state auditor Roderick Wamil about institutional concerns regarding the verification, compliance, and transparency in handling public money.
Meanwhile, the House prosecution panel presented state auditor Xylene Mae Del Ocampo as its next witness in connection with Article I, which alleges misuse, questionable liquidation, and systematic misappropriation of Duterte’s confidential funds.
Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

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/178756333999420260806-senate-impeachment-day13-SSMU-JV33.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator judges on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, raised clarificatory questions on the validity and sufficiency of documents used to justify the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte. Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator judges on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, raised clarificatory questions on the validity and sufficiency of documents used to justify the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte. <em>Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) — At the end of the 17th day of Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial, the prosecution asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena three Armed Forces of the Philippines officials as their next set of witnesses in the trial. </p><p>Col. Raymund Lachica, whom hostile witness Gina Acosta repeatedly pointed to in her testimony on Monday, was not included.</p><p>These witnesses are Col. Manaros Boransing II, Col. Magtanggol Panopio, and retired Maj. Gen. Adonis Bajao.</p><p>The prosecution said these officials are linked to the AFP certifications allegedly used to justify the spending of P15 million worth of DepEd&#x27;s confidential fund in 2023. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/24/ovp-staff-member-acosta-s-testimony-raises-more-questions-for-ex-security-chief-lachica-1600">READ: OVP staff member Acosta’s testimony raises more questions for ex-security chief Lachica</a></div><p>&quot;Unang una, ang inie-establish natin is &#x27;yung pattern, &#x27;yung masasabi natin na pwedeng impeachable offense. Yung tatlo na ipepresenta namin, sila yung mga  nag-issue ng certification kung saan sinasabi nila na ni singkong butas wala silang natanggap na pondo galing sa DepEd,&quot; House prosecutor Joel Chua said in the post-trial press briefing. </p><p>Asked why they have yet to decide to call Lachica to the witness stand, the prosecution cited its evidentiary targets and trial strategy when dealing with hostile witnesses.</p><p>&quot;You don’t present a hostile witness unless it’s absolutely necessary to hit your evidentiary targets,&quot; House prosecution spokesperson Atty. Jay Tolosa explained. </p><p>Lachica on Tuesday said he is willing to testify in the impeachment trial.</p><p>&quot;I have never refused to appear or testify; if lawfully called, I am prepared to tell the truth, subject to applicable laws and security restrictions,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>Tolosa said the prosecution is still assessing whether Lachica’s testimony would be necessary, especially since previous witnesses have already testified on the alleged misuse of the OVP confidential funds.</p><p>&quot;We will assess, kailangan pa ba talaga ito? Or hindi naman na dahil regardless kahit hindi na siya umupo sa stand, yung evidentiary targets namin ay na-meet na ng other witnesses,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;There are a lot of ways to go about it to show the entire story without having to present everyone involved,&quot; Tolosa added. </p><p>Tolosa also pointed out that Lachica is included in the defense’s list of witnesses.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" 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">READ: Acosta says she relied on Lachica, documents to verify OVP confidential fund use</a></div><p>&quot;If I remember correctly, naka-list siya as one of the witnesses ni defense so they can certainly call him as their own witnesses should they see the need to do so.&quot;</p><p>Chua, however, clarified that the prosecution is not entirely discounting the possibility of calling Lachica as a hostile witness.</p><p>The prosecution also clarified that its move to present the three AFP officials came after its initial hostile witness, former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda, filed a medical certificate excusing him from the trial this week.</p><p>&quot;Dahil kanina lang namin nalaman na yung supposed witness namin na kung sinong pinaghahandaan sa susunod na iupo si Ginoong Fajarda ay hindi available… kaya mabilis na ito yung nabigay namin ng alternative witnesses,&quot; Tolosa added. </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/tXyVcdkpKsM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>At the end of the 17th day of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, the prosecution asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena three Armed Forces of the Philippines officials as their next set of witnesses in the trial.</p>

At the end of the 17th day of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, the prosecution asked the Senate impeachment court to subpoena three Armed Forces of the Philippines officials as their next set of witnesses in the trial.

Prosecution eyes 3 AFP officials as next witnesses in VP impeachment trial, still deciding on Lachica

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Prosecution eyes 3 AFP officials as next witnesses in VP impeachment trial, still deciding on Lachica

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 24, 2026 05:23 PM PHT

|

Updated August 25, 2026 04:53 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Philippine Senate

Senate impeachment court

impeachment trial

Duterte impeachment

House prosecution panel

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