Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

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/178781676257720260826-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day19-MT18.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator-judges interject during the cross-examination of Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Chief of Staff Asec. Lemuel Ortonio, the second hostile witness, on the 19th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. <em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian believes the decision of impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero to strictly enforce the sub judice rule was for the good.</div><p>Rule 18 of the Senate Rules of Impeachment prohibits the presiding officer, senator-judges, prosecutors, impeached person, defense and prosecution counsels, and witnesses from discussing the merits of the case.</p><p>“Nakikita ko rin yung mga interviews ng mga lawyers on both sides at tempting kasi yung camera eh,” Gatchalian said on Thursday.</p><p>“At hindi rin magiging fair sa respondent kung sa court nga hindi ka nagsasalita, sa labas naman inuulit mo yung mga sinasabi. So it’s a very fair and comprehensive ruling at sinusuportahan ng mga senator-judge,” he added.</p><p>Gatchalian said the respondent, Vice President Sara Duterte, should also be conscious of her statements considering the sub judice rule.</p><p>&quot;Dapat maging conscious din siya moving forward doon sa mga statements niya especially on the merits. So it covers everyone kasama kami doon, mga senator-judges,” Gatchalian reminded.</p><p>The Senate leader personally believes the use of words like “scam” and “modus operandi” are “inappropriate” because even if these are stricken off, the videos can still be replayed.</p><p>“Ako, personally feel ko na inappropriate yun at hindi tama dahil kahit na i-strike off the record, wala nang bisa yun eh. Mayroon na tayong YouTube, pwede mong i-replay,” Gatchalian explained.</p><p>“It affects the mentality of the senator-judges. It also affects the mentality of the public. Kami being political figure, kung ang publiko ay affected, the wrong way, ma-affect din kami. So, kaya dapat maging maingat talaga yung prosecution and defense sa kanilang pananalita,” Gatchalian stated.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>L</strong><strong>ACHICA</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Gatchalian said he sees the need to call to the witness stand Colonel Raymund Lachica, former commander of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).</p><p>Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta and current Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio repeatedly said they trusted Lachica in implementing confidential activities and confidential funds because he was designated by Duterte as security officer.</p><p>“Ako personally, he has to come here,” Gatchalian said.</p><p>“When the time comes, tingnan natin kung kailangan i-compel ng court na papuntahin siya dito. If you follow the money trail, at pinakinggan mo yung mga testimonies ni Acosta, ni Ortonio, sa kanya talaga huminto yung money trail. So personally, ako as a senator-judge, importante yung kanyang testimony.” </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ADJUSTMENT </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Because of the impeachment trial, the Senate has to adjust its legislative work.</p><p>According to Gatchalian, they are looking into possibly holding budget hearings while session is ongoing by the second week of September.</p><p>He explained that they will have to suspend the Senate Rules in order for the Committee on Finance to do this because committee hearings are prohibited at the same time as the session.</p><p>He added that he will still need to consult Committee on Finance chairperson Senator JV Ejercito regarding this.</p><p>Budget hearings will be scheduled from Monday to Friday. There will be no weekend hearings, particularly in consideration of the Senate staff who also handle the impeachment trial.</p><p>As for moving the trial in the afternoon, Gatchalian said they are still considering this as they continue to consult the defense and prosecution teams.</p><p>The Senate hopes to finish the impeachment trial before Christmas.</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/7mV90hW-nzI?&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/jrylrvJFx1Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Gatchalian said the respondent, Vice President Sara Duterte, should also be conscious of her statements considering the sub judice rule.</p>

Gatchalian said the respondent, Vice President Sara Duterte, should also be conscious of her statements considering the sub judice rule.

Gatchalian supports sub judice ruling, says all, including VP Sara, should follow

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Gatchalian supports sub judice ruling, says all, including VP Sara, should follow

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 27, 2026 03:56 PM PHT

Read More:

impeachment

sub judice

sara duterte

win gatchalian

budget hearing

raymund lachica

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