Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

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/1787728996708HQnf8ydasAA0i6c (4).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Raffy Tulfo and OVP Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.<em> 📷༘ Voltaire Domingo, Senate Social Media Unit &amp; Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Office of the Vice President (OVP) assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio took offense at senator-judge Raffy Tulfo’s remarks questioning his failure to scrutinize the use of confidential funds to buy medicines for informants during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/what-senator-judges-lawyers-can-and-cannot-do-in-an-impeachment-court-1250">What senator-judges, lawyers can and cannot do in an impeachment court</a></div><p>Tulfo pressed Ortonio on why he did not question why informants were allegedly given hundreds of thousands of pesos for medicines, particularly since the OVP could have sought medical assistance from the Department of Health (DOH).</p><p>“May mga malalang sakit ba sila?” Tulfo asked, referring to the informants.</p><p>“I don’t have personal knowledge,” Ortonio replied.</p><p>Tulfo then questioned why Ortonio, whom he described as “very intelligent” and “very smart,” did not ask former OVP security officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica about the purchases.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1651969640311619%26set%3Da.650104283831498%26type%3D3&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="753" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Ortonio said he trusted what Lachica, who was tasked with handling the security-related activities, told him at the time.</p><p>When Tulfo said it was Ortonio’s “responsibility” to know, the OVP official pushed back.</p><p>“In terms of the responsibility to know, I’m not sure if I’m the one who’s responsible to know, sir,” Ortonio said.</p><p>Tulfo then criticized Ortonio’s explanation, saying the OVP could have asked the DOH for medicines instead of using confidential funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/vp-sara-prove-impeachment-case-with-evidence-not-insults-1045">Sara Duterte: Prove impeachment case ‘with evidence, not insults’</a></div><p>“Kaya nga, Mr. Smart Guy, nung nakita mo na maraming binigyan ng hundreds of thousands each para sa gamot ang mga informant, you could’ve asked Col. Lachica na ‘ba’t di tayo pumunta sa DOH at manghingi ng gamot para makalibre, makatipid sa confidential funds?’” Tulfo said.</p><p>Ortonio responded that he was not the main implementor of the activities involving the confidential funds.</p><p>“The wisdom behind the confidential funds were implemented because, again sir, I’m not the main implementor of the said activities,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NAGTATANGA-TANGAHAN&#x27;</strong><strong></strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><p>Tulfo continued to challenge Ortonio’s explanation, telling him that as OVP assistant chief-of-staff and a signatory to an acknowledgment and obligation document, he had the right to ask questions.</p><p>“Hindi po kapani-paniwala mga pinagsasabi mo sir. For me, sayang po ang pagkatalino mo rito. Nasira ang pagkatalino mong tao. Nakakahiya sa mga eskuweluhan kung saan ka nag-aral, nag-graduate, because ngayon, pinakita mo na nagsasalita ka na para kang – sorry sir, sorry sir – nagtatanga-tangahan. Pasensya na, sir,” Tulfo said.</p><p>Ortonio then explicitly objected to Tulfo’s characterization of his testimony.</p><p>“With all due respect, your honor, I personally took offense [on] that comment, sir,” Ortonio said.</p><p>“I actually just did my duty, sir. At that time, I believe na ’yun ang kailangan kong gawin bilang isang empleyado. And I did my work based on what was tasked of me, including the limitations I can do to the duty that I will be doing.”</p><p>Tulfo maintained that Ortonio should have exercised greater scrutiny, saying that if he were presented with similar documents and received inadequate explanations, he would have refused to sign them or resigned rather than risk being implicated.</p><p>“If you’re being offended, mas lalo pong offended ang napakaraming Pilipino ngayon,” Tulfo said, referring to taxpayers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/senate-impeachment-court-ruling-on-sub-judice-well-researched-very-fair-kapunan-1354">Senate impeachment court ruling on sub judice ‘well researched, very fair&#x27; — Kapunan</a></div><p>“What I’m talking about, ‘yung mga sagot mo ay defies logic para sa isang matalinong tao,” Tulfo said. “Kasi kung ako, pinresenta sa akin mga ganoong dokumento, nagtanong ako, di nasagot nang maayos, I will resign. Kaysa makulong ako.”</p><p>Tulfo added that Ortonio had two choices: continue signing documents without questioning them or refuse to participate.</p><p>“Dalawa lang ’yan e, patuloy kang magbubulag-bulagan, pirma ka lang nang pirma nakapikit, pero ang consequence niyan ay maaari kang makulong, maaari kang makasuhan,” he said. “Or, mag-resign ka na lang. Kung ako, I will resign.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;STILL PENDING&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Ortonio, meanwhile, reminded the senator-judge that questions surrounding the confidential funds remain subject to a pending final decision.</p><p>“With all due respect, I believe this matter of the confidential funds is still pending the final decision. We are currently still submitting our motion for reconsideration on this one. We still have not received any final reply on this one,” he said.</p><p>Tulfo earlier asked whether Ortonio signed the OVP&#x27;s reply to the COA &quot;with his eyes closed (nakapikit),&quot; which the latter denied.</p><p>&quot;At the time, hindi ko nakita &#x27;yong acknowledgement receipts. I was only made aware of the acknowledgement receipts when it was already shown during the HOR na mga hearing,&quot; Ortonio said.</p><p>Tulfo told Ortonio: &quot;Napakatalino mong tao sa credentials mo... and then parang, sorry sir, parang nagmaang-maangan ka.&quot; &quot;Again, is it blind loyalty?&quot; </p><p>The exchange happened hours after the impeachment court moved to more strictly enforce its rules on public statements concerning the pending case.</p><p>On Wednesday, impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero issued a ruling clarifying the scope and enforcement of Rule 18, or the sub judice rule.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><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/6rVDgiqusB0?&amp;pp=0gcJCRMMAYcqIYzv&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/zgg7boeYtxE?&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/_geOZxnnec0?&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/xYB9a73TLZk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>OVP assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio took offense at senator-judge Raffy Tulfo’s remarks questioning his failure to scrutinize the use of confidential funds to buy medicines for informants during Wednesday impeachmnent trial.</p>

OVP assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio took offense at senator-judge Raffy Tulfo’s remarks questioning his failure to scrutinize the use of confidential funds to buy medicines for informants during Wednesday impeachmnent trial.

'I personally take offense': Ortonio pushes back at Tulfo’s 'tanga-tangahan' remark

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

'I personally take offense': Ortonio pushes back at Tulfo’s 'tanga-tangahan' remark

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 03:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Impeachment court

Tulfo

Impeachment trial

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription. If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.