The Senate impeachment court resumes proceedings today, August 17, for the 16th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
The court will continue hearing Article I, which centers on the alleged “Misuse and Misappropriation of Confidential Funds” involving ₱612.5 million—₱500 million from the Office of the Vice President and ₱112.5 million from the Department of Education.
The prosecution is expected to present Marivic Pareja, director of the House of Representatives Legislative Information Resources Management Department, as its fifth witness for Article I. Her testimony is expected to focus on House records and documents relevant to the case, including issues surrounding the handling and transmission of documents.
The Senate has also issued subpoenas for former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda, and OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, who may testify in the succeeding hearings.
Also expected is a ruling or order from Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero regarding statements and social media posts made by individuals involved in the impeachment proceedings.
Trial begins
The 16th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial begins on Monday, August 17, with 13 senators serving as senator-judges in attendance.
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo leads the opening prayer as the Senate impeachment court enters the seventh week of proceedings. Tulfo asks the “Almighty Father” to guide everyone involved in the impeachment trial.
Prosecution seeks chance for Ligutan to respond
The prosecution panel asks the impeachment court to allow counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan to make a manifestation after the defense criticized his social media post about “misleading questions.” The prosecution says Ligutan’s name was alluded to by the defense during the proceedings. Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero says the court will give Ligutan an opportunity to address the matter at the proper time before issuing a ruling.
Marivic Pareja takes oath as prosecution witness
House Legislative Archives and Museum Management Service Director Marivic Pareja takes her oath as a witness before the Senate impeachment court on Monday, August 17. Pareja is set to testify in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Her testimony is part of the proceedings on Article I concerning the alleged misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds.
Defense stipulates to prosecution documents
The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte stipulates to documents presented by the prosecution during the 16th day of the impeachment trial on Monday.
“We stipulate, your honor, as regards to the transmission of documents to the department of the witness,” defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel says. The day’s witness is Marivic Pareja, head of the House’s legislative information bureau.
Pareja excused after defense stipulates to documents
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero excuses witness Marivic Pareja, head of the House’s legislative information bureau, after the defense team stipulates to the documents presented by the prosecution.
Escudero says there is no need to present Pareja before the court, subject to the defense’s right to challenge whether the documents are faithful reproductions of the originals. Defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel says the defense is “amenable to that proposition.”
Prosecution, defense clash over Acosta’s Davao background
The defense and prosecution clash over whether witness Gina Acosta’s previous role as Special Disbursing Officer in Davao City is relevant to the impeachment trial. Defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel objects, arguing that Davao City’s confidential funds are not part of the allegations in the Articles of Impeachment.
Prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Ligutan disagrees, saying Acosta’s experience in Davao City is relevant because it allegedly led to her being brought to the Office of the Vice President to “do the things they did in Davao City, this time, with the money of the Office of the Vice President.”
Acosta declared first hostile witness
Prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan presents former Office of the Vice President Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta as a hostile witness.
Acosta becomes the prosecution’s first hostile witness in the proceedings. Her testimony concerns the alleged misuse of the OVP’s confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.
Proceedings briefly delayed over interpreter
Proceedings are briefly delayed during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on August 17 after prosecution witness and OVP disbursing officer Gina Acosta asks to mix Bisaya with English or Filipino during her testimony.
Prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan urges Acosta to “try her best” to speak in English or Filipino as the impeachment court looks for an interpreter.
Ligutan clarifies preparation of confidential fund expenses
House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan insists that preparing the Physical and Financial Plan (PFP) is different from detailing the list of expenses during the impeachment trial.
Witness Gina Acosta says she writes the expense list based on information provided by OVP Security Officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica regarding expenses for confidential operations. “Wala iba yon,” Ligutan says in response to the defense’s objection.
Tulfo urges Acosta to speak in Tagalog
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo urges the Senate impeachment court to compel hostile witness Gina Acosta to speak in Tagalog during her testimony.
Tulfo cites transcripts from a previous congressional hearing where Acosta answered in Tagalog, saying, “Hindi ko po maintindihan bakit parang dito hirap na hirap po siya mag-Tagalog.”
Escudero calls for lunch break
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero calls for a lunch break during the 16th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, asking witness Gina Acosta to rest and eat. “Ma’am Gina, kain muna tayo.
Para makahinga at maka-relax kayo,” Escudero tells Acosta. The former OVP Special Disbursing Officer agrees to take a break before the proceedings resume.
Prosecution presents simulated ₱125 million cash representation
House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan presents a simulated representation of ₱125 million in cash during the impeachment trial to illustrate the amount allegedly encashed by former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta on December 20, 2022.
Acosta testifies that the money was initially placed in two boxes before she transferred it into four traveling bags after the encashment.
Defense objects to simulated ₱125 million cash display
Defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel objects to the simulated representation of ₱125 million in cash being used by the prosecution during its questioning of former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta.
Bacquel asks that the props be removed, saying, “May we respectfully ask if the props could already be removed.” The prosecution, however, maintains that the simulated cash remains relevant to its ongoing questioning of Acosta.
Acosta describes four bags used for ₱125 million
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta describes the four black bags she says were used to carry ₱125 million in confidential funds during the impeachment trial.
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero asks Acosta to compare the bags with the AI-generated representation presented by the prosecution, but she says the actual bags had a different zipper opening.
Acosta maintains that the ₱125 million fit into four bags.
Acosta says she followed orders in releasing ₱125 million
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta says she contacted Col. Raymund Dante Lachica after encashing ₱125 million in confidential funds because she was following instructions from her superiors.
Acosta says she was instructed to release the money to Lachica, then the designated security officer of the Office of the Vice President. “Kasi po may instruction po sa taas, your honor,” Acosta tells prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan.
Acosta says Sara Duterte ordered release of ₱125 million
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta testifies that then-Vice President Sara Duterte allegedly instructed her to release ₱125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica.
Acosta says she was told to turn over the money to Lachica after the check was encashed because he was the designated security officer who supposedly knew about the OVP’s confidential activities. Her testimony comes as the prosecution presents evidence on the alleged use of the OVP’s confidential funds.
Day 16 of impeachment trial adjourns
The Senate impeachment court formally adjourns the 16th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, August 17.
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero announces, “The trial is hereby adjourned,” as proceedings come to a close. The impeachment trial resumes on Tuesday, August 18.
