Dennis Gaviola

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

<p>MANILA — A top aide for Vice President Sara Duterte clarified Wednesday during the impeachment proceeding that the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/ovp-confidential-funds-spend-in-11-days-for-obligations-from-previous-months-witness-1624">P125 million in confidential funds spent in 11 days</a> in December 2022 was not used to reimburse obligations.</p><p>Lemuel Ortonio, assistant chief of staff of the Office of the Vice President, said there was &quot;no payment in advance&quot; and that all payments were made from December 21 to 31, 2022.</p><p>Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian pointed out that the OVP&#x27;s reply to the Commission on Audit dated Nov. 30, 2023, indicated that the P125-million fund was &quot;fully utilized for expenses planned, implemented, and paid during the three-month period&quot; covering October to December 2022.</p><p>It was &quot;clear&quot; in the OVP letter, Gatchalian continued, that the obligations were &quot;paid three months in advance&quot; and that the P125-million confidential fund would be used to reimburse.</p><p>Gatchalian said that the OVP&#x27;s explanation in the letter was &quot;more realistic,&quot; although he pointed out that it would be a violation of Joint Circular 2015-01 which prohibits the use of confidential and intelligence funds for reimbursements.</p><p>But Ortonio explained that there were no reimbursements made, based on what was relayed to him by Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, former head of Duterte&#x27;s security and who allegedly implemented the office&#x27;s confidential activities.</p><p>&quot;For the period of October to December 2022, based on the information that was shared by the security officer, once we have already submitted yung PFP (Physical and Financial Plan) sometime in September, the security team, meaning si Col. Lachica, already made coordination with informants or agents on the ground,&quot; Ortonio said, noting that he was not privy as to the extent of the coordination.</p><div><a href="http://ent-witness-1319">Only VP Duterte, ex-security head Lachica knew how confidential funds were spent — witness</a></div><p>&quot;When we received the SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) in Dec. 13, 2022, which already indicates that we already have the funding for the coinfidential funds, that&#x27;s the time that they were able to make definitive agreements with the informants on the ground,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;And once the check has been enchased already that&#x27;s the time that payments were made between the period of Dec. 21 to 31.&quot;</p><p>Duterte is facing allegations she misused her confidential funds. She has denied the allegations and has said they are related to politics.</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/foqMBjPyZe8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A top aide for Vice President Sara Duterte clarified Wednesday during the impeachment proceeding that the P125 million in confidential funds spent in 11 days in December 2022 were not used to reimburse obligations.</p>

A top aide for Vice President Sara Duterte clarified Wednesday during the impeachment proceeding that the P125 million in confidential funds spent in 11 days in December 2022 were not used to reimburse obligations.

Top VP Duterte aide clarifies payment of P125-M 'obligations', says there were no reimbursements

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Top VP Duterte aide clarifies payment of P125-M 'obligations', says there were no reimbursements

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 03:44 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

Impeachment Trial

Senate Trial

Sara Duterte Trial

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Impeachment

Lemuel Ortonio

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