Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

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/1787627436178784003230_1757040382110728_7073662176656584490_n.jpeg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, the prosecution&#x27;s second hostile witness, answers questions from prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia during the direct examination on the 18th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News  </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— The Senate impeachment court declared Wednesday Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio a hostile witness in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, allowing the prosecution panel to ask him leading questions.</p><p>&quot;The court declares Mr. Ortonio as a hostile witness based on his adverse interest vis-a-vis the respondent and the prosecution, and that therefore, [prosecution] counsel Atty. Mae [Divinagracia] can ask leading questions,&quot; said Senator-judge Francis Escudero, the presiding officer in the trial.</p><p>Prior to this, Divinagracia sought to establish Ortonio as a hostile witness by questioning him about his family&#x27;s business interests, attempting to prove that the &quot;witness and the respondent move in the same social circle.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/live-updates-vice-president-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-day-18-0940"><strong>LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s Impeachment Trial (Day 18)<br/></strong></a></div><p>But following an objection from the defense panel, Escudero intervened to &quot;abbreviate the proceedings,&quot; declaring Ortonio a hostile witness by reiterating that he &quot;serves at the pleasure of the vice president, has been working for her for quite some time and is serving up to now... and that if the vice president is impeached, and therefore removed from office, pati kayo [Ortonio] matatanggal.&quot;</p><p>Prior to working in the OVP in 2022, Ortonio was head of the human resource management office of Davao City when Duterte was mayor of the southern city. He also held other local government positions in the city under Duterte.</p><p>Ortonio graduated with a bachelor&#x27;s degree in communication arts from Ateneo de Davao University.</p><p>He also holds a master&#x27;s degree in development communication from the University of the Philippines and a master of arts in psychology from Southville International School and Colleges. He also completed a diploma course at the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development.</p><p>He taught at Ateneo de Davao University for one semester.</p><p>Ortonio is the second hostile witness in the case following Gina Acosta, another OVP staff and its former special disbursing officer for confidential funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/when-is-a-witness-hostile-and-what-happens-when-they-are-1308"><strong>READ: When is a witness &#x27;hostile&#x27; and what happens when they are?<br/></strong></a></div><div><a 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"><strong>READ: OVP staff member Acosta’s testimony raises more questions for ex-security chief Lachica<br/></strong></a></div><p>Ortonio was called to testify in the trial in relation to allegations that Duterte misused the OVP&#x27;s confidential funds. His name surfaced in several documents related to the office&#x27;s use of such funds.</p><p>Duterte is also accused of amassing unexplained wealth bribery, and making grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, allegations that she and her camp have denied. <strong>— With a report from Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><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="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y1o4jDimhVc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Senate impeachment court declared Wednesday Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio a hostile witness in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, allowing the prosecution panel to ask him leading questions.</p>

The Senate impeachment court declared Wednesday Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio a hostile witness in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, allowing the prosecution panel to ask him leading questions.

Duterte impeachment trial: OVP's Lemuel Ortonio declared hostile witness

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Duterte impeachment trial: OVP's Lemuel Ortonio declared hostile witness

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2026 11:15 AM PHT

|

Updated August 25, 2026 11:33 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte impeachment

Office of the Vice President

Lemuel Ortonio

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