Jamaine Punzalan

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/17876491930911787634713613Screenshot 2026-08-25 131118.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>Col. Raymund Dante Lachica in February 2024. Armed Forces of the Philippines Security and Protection Group</p><div><br/></div>​<p>MANILA — Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, former head of Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s security, said he was “prepared to tell the truth” on his alleged involvement in the use of her office’s confidential funds. </p><p>Former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer <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">Gina Acosta&#x27;s</a> testified Monday in Duterte’s impeachment trial that she had disbursed the funds to Lachica who allegedly implemented the office&#x27;s confidential activities.</p><p>Lachica noted that he had “never refused to appear or testify.” </p><p>“If lawfully called, I am prepared to tell the truth, subject to applicable laws and security restrictions,” he said in a statement. </p><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">WRAP: OVP staff member Acosta’s testimony raises more questions for ex-security chief Lachica</a></div><div><strong>WILL PROSECUTION CALL LACHICA? </strong></div><p>Prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro said she personally believes that Lachica should no longer be called to the witness stand, but stressed that the final decision would be made by the entire prosecution team.</p><p>“I will be very honest with you. I am more inclined not to present Lachica. My position is simple, may misuse (ng confidential funds) na ba nung sinabi ni Gina Acosta na tinurn over niya the entire amount to the security officer who is non-accountable?” Luistro said, noting that Acosta’s earlier testimony could already be sufficient.</p><p>“But this is just my personal position. As a matter of practice, we always decide as a team and that’s why we will be deliberating with each other and come up with our final decision as a prosecution team,” she said.</p><p>Atty. Jay Tolosa, meanwhile, stressed that the prosecution’s uncertainty over calling Lachica does not mean they are afraid to put him on the witness stand. He said the team simply needs to weigh the strategic implications of presenting another hostile witness.</p><p>“Takot ba kami na umupo sa witness stand si Lachica? Definitely not. Kung ipapatawag nila, go ahead. And we’re ready to cross examine him. Ang tanong diyan, mas strategic ba sa amin na kami ang tumawag? Kailangan ba namin siya,” he said.</p><p>This comes after the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/afp-ends-probe-on-lachica-over-confidential-funds-1314">AFP earlier announced that it had terminated its investigation </a>into Lachica’s alleged involvement in the use of Duterte’s confidential funds, leaving the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Senate.</p><p>Luistro said the prosecution is interested in the findings of the AFP probe but stressed that these would not affect the impeachment proceedings or their decision on whether to present AFP officers as witnesses.</p><p>“We are interested to know kung ano ang resulta ng supposed investigation of the AFP of course we are interested to know kung ano ang result but nevertheless…as fas as their investigation is concerned that will not in any way bar the impeachment proceeding much less the presentation of the AFP officers (as witnesses),” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/24/prosecution-eyes-3-afp-officials-as-next-witnesses-in-vp-impeachment-trial-1723">Prosecution eyes 3 AFP officials as next witnesses in VP impeachment trial, still deciding on Lachica</a></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/tXyVcdkpKsM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong>ORTONIO  TESTIMONY   </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Luistro described the testimony of the prosecution’s second hostile witness, Lemuel Ortonio, as “very material” in holding the Vice President accountable. </p><p>“I would say na very material ang naging testimony ni Mr. Ortonio because first and foremost, na-bolster niya, na-highlight niya, na-emphasize niya yung mga irregularities with respect to the supposed compliance in the Joint Circular 2015-05,” she said, citing Ortonio’s testimony on how the OVP confidential funds were requested, implemented, and liquidated.</p><p>Luistro also highlighted the similarities between Ortonio’s testimony and that of the prosecution’s first hostile witness, former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, saying these point to the accountability ofDuterte herself.</p><p>“Whether it is Ortonio or Acosta, merong commonality ang testimony nila and that is lahat ng ginawa nila, nanggaling sa utos ng head of agency,” she said. “Simula nung nag-request ng confidential fund hanggang sa i-liquidate ito, lahat nanggaling sa utos ng head of agency.”</p><p>Deputy Speaker Rep. Paolo Ortega, meanwhile, pointed out that Lachica’s name surfaced in both witnesses’ testimonies, which he said appeared to shift accountability away from the OVP officials.</p><p>“Parang ang dating sa mga statements nila, parang nilalaglag nila si security officer si Col. Lachica… kasi paulit-ulit nilang minemention ang pangalan nila, parang nagha-hands off sila naghuhugas kamay.”</p><p>Ortega however stressed that this should not absolve the Vice President from accountability.</p><p>“Pero paano nila i-escape yung accountability eh yung mga disbursing officer, inutusan naman at binigyan ng authority ng vice president,” he said.  </p><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/iKYEwKtGCAo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/Y-B8mLiZxTg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, former head of Vice President Sara Duterte's security, said he was “prepared to tell the truth” on his alleged involvement in the use of her office’s confidential funds.</p>

Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, former head of Vice President Sara Duterte's security, said he was “prepared to tell the truth” on his alleged involvement in the use of her office’s confidential funds.

Lachica says ‘prepared to tell truth’ on confidential funds

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Lachica says ‘prepared to tell truth’ on confidential funds

Jamaine Punzalan,

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2026 05:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Lachica

Sara Duterte

Duterte

Duterte impeachment

impeachment

House of Representatives

Senate

Senate impeachment trial

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