Camille Naredo

Senator-judges and members of both the prosecution and defense teams arrive at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City for the 19th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Date:   August 26, 2026
Location:  Pasay City
Photographer:  Maria Tabn, ABS-CBN News
Senator-judges and members of both the prosecution and defense teams arrive at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City for the 19th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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/178773707291820260826-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day19-MT11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator-judges and members of both the prosecution and defense teams arrive at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City for the 19th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator-judges and members of both the prosecution and defense teams arrive at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City for the 19th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Following the testimonies of two hostile witnesses who both pointed to Col. Raymund Lachica, the prosecution said it is still discussing whether to call him to the witness stand but maintained it remains “confident” it has established the necessary facts for the first article of impeachment.</p><p>This came after Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo made another manifestation calling on the presiding officer, Senator-Judge Chiz Escudero, to address the issue. Escudero maintained, however, that the impeachment court cannot compel either party to call a particular witness.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/only-vp-duterte-ex-security-head-lachica-knew-how-confidential-funds-were-spent-witness-1319">READ: Only VP Duterte, ex-security head Lachica knew how confidential funds were spent — witness</a></div><p>“Confident na po kami na in-establish namin yung facts… indicative nung time na hindi na namin pinatawag yung mga other witnesses para din po mag-save ng time,” House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.</p><p>The prosecution announced on Wednesday that it would drop retired Maj. Gen. Adonis Bajao from its witness list. Bajao is one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines officials the prosecution said is linked to the AFP certifications allegedly used to justify the spending of P15 million in the confidential funds of the Department of Education in 2023.</p><p>Adiong added that the Vice President’s accountability had already been established through the testimonies of the prosecution’s first two hostile witnesses, Gina Acosta and Lemuel Ortonio, even without calling Lachica to the stand.</p><p>“Accountability is moving upward. Si Vice President lang at si Col. Lachica ang may alam kung paano ito ginamit. So na-establish na po yun. So I think on that note hindi na po para sa amin, we don’t actually need to present Col. Lachica,” he added.</p><p>Instead of calling Lachica to testify, House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin urged Vice President Sara Duterte to take the witness stand herself.</p><p>“Totoo, maraming maisasagot si Col. Lachica. Subalit, mas matutuldukan talaga ito, masasagot ang lahat ng mga katanungang hindi pa nasasagot kapag ang sumagot ay yung ating itinalagang Vice President,” Garin said.</p><p>“The impeachment court is the best opportunity for the Vice President to clean her name, to vindicate your name, to prove the complainants wrong and to put an end to this impeachment trial.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/dRRzkqf_VtM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>Following the testimonies of two hostile witnesses who both pointed to Col. Raymund Lachica, the prosecution said it is still discussing whether to call him to the witness stand but maintained it remains “confident” it has established the necessary facts for the first article of impeachment.</p>

Following the testimonies of two hostile witnesses who both pointed to Col. Raymund Lachica, the prosecution said it is still discussing whether to call him to the witness stand but maintained it remains “confident” it has established the necessary facts for the first article of impeachment.

Prosecution ‘confident’ Article 1 case established even without Lachica's testimony

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Prosecution ‘confident’ Article 1 case established even without Lachica's testimony

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 05:41 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Sara Duterte

impeachment

Raymund Lachica

Duterte impeachment

Senate impeachment court

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