Marilyn Cahatol

OVP Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, the second hostile witness, answers questions from private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia during the direct examination on the 18th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Ortonio is being questioned on matters related to his role and responsibilities at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), particularly on the use of confidential funds.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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VP Sara Impeachment

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/178764507735020260825-senate-impeachment-day18-MT10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">OVP Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, the second hostile witness, answers questions from private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia during the direct examination on the 18th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Ortonio is being questioned on matters related to his role and responsibilities at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), particularly on the use of confidential funds. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Office of the Vice President spent P125 million in confidential funds within 11 days days in December 2022 because they were used for “obligations already incurred” from October onwards, a witness testified during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. </p><p>Witness <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/who-is-lemuel-ortonio-2nd-hostile-witness-in-duterte-trial-1313">Lemuel Ortonio</a>, OVP assistant chief-of-staff, confirmed writing that in the OVP’s letter responding to the Commission on Audit&#x27;s questions in relation to how the P125 million was spent.</p><p>The letter, presented by the prosecution, stated that the P125 million &quot;was fully utilized for expenses planned, implemented and paid during the three-month period (October to December 2022) and not within mere 11 days, as what the audit observations may have suggested.&quot;</p><p>Ortonio said the letter was based on information provided by Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, an Army officer who used to head Duterte&#x27;s security unit and, according to Acosta and Ortonio, was in charge of implementing confidential activities for the OVP. </p><p>Ortonio said he has no personal knowledge of arrangements made on the ground.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ARRANGEMENTS MADE</strong></div><p>Senator-Judge Francis Escudero, trial presiding officer, asked Ortonio if the phrase “obligations already incurred” meant “<em>utang</em>” or debt. </p><p>Ortonio said these were not debts &quot;but arrangements have been done on [the] activities that will be done.&quot; He said the payments for those activities &quot;will be done once the money would be available already.&quot;</p><p>He said that the line meant &quot;there are already arrangements that have been coordinated prior to the release of the funds.&quot;</p><p>The prosecution noted that under Joint Circular 2015-01, which governs the use of confidential and intelligence funds, cash advances should precede expenses, and that it is illegal to use cash advance to pay obligations made prior to the release. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/witness-confirms-ovp-requested-confidential-funds-before-plan-was-prepped-1244">Witness confirms OVP requested confidential funds before Physical and Financial plan was prepared</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEnTsIhnco8?si=vrKdU5lXngRop8UY" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The P125 million in confidential funds the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent within 11 days were used for “obligations already incurred” from October to December 2022, a witness testified during the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte.</p>

The P125 million in confidential funds the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent within 11 days were used for “obligations already incurred” from October to December 2022, a witness testified during the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte.

OVP confidential funds spend in 11 days for 'obligations' from previous months — witness

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OVP confidential funds spend in 11 days for 'obligations' from previous months — witness

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2026 04:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

confidential funds

Senate

Office of the Vice President

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