The Senate impeachment court continues its deliberations on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which centers on the alleged misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.

Following the testimony of hostile witness Gina Acosta, the House prosecution panel is expected to present its seventh witness for Article I, Office of the Vice President Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.

Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero is also expected to issue a ruling or order concerning statements made by the parties on social media, amid ongoing exchanges outside the impeachment court.

The proceedings are expected to further examine the prosecution’s allegations involving the use of confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

The impeachment court declares a brief recess to allow both sides to discuss stipulations on the documents to be presented to the prosecution’s next witness.

The discussions focus on the documents that will be submitted as part of the ongoing proceedings.


Prosecution presents Lemuel Ortonio as witness

The prosecution begins presenting Office of the Vice President Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio as its witness.

Ortonio takes his oath before the impeachment court ahead of his direct examination.

The OVP official is the prosecution’s seventh witness for Article I of the impeachment case.


Defense calls prosecution claims ‘sound bites’

Defense counsel Atty. Kristine Ferrer describes the prosecution’s 11 points on confidential funds as “theories,” “speculations and conjectures,” and “sound bites”.

Ferrer says the claims have yet to be proven before the impeachment court. She adds that the defense will cross-examine witness Lemuel Ortonio to verify or disprove the prosecution’s allegations.

Ortonio declared hostile witness

Private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia establishes the alleged social connection between witness Lemuel Ortonio and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Divinagracia says the connection is relevant, arguing that Ortonio could become “a social pariah” if he testifies unfavorably against Duterte.

Defense counsel Atty. Kristine Ferrer objects on relevance, but Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero overrules the objection and tells the prosecutor to proceed to her point.

‘There is no record of confidential funds’

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirms that the Office of the Vice President had no record of confidential funds during the tenure of former Vice President Leni Robredo.

Ortonio says this became the basis for the OVP’s request for confidential funds in 2022.

The request was made through a letter sent to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).


OVP had no computation or supporting documents for 2022 confidential fund request

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirms that Vice President Sara Duterte personally signed documents related to the OVP’s request for confidential funds.

The impeachment court notes that Duterte’s signatures on the attached documents appear different from the one on the letter request.

Despite this, Ortonio maintains that the vice president signed the documents.


Ortonio confirms accompanying Acosta to LandBank

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirms that he accompanied former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta when she encashed checks at the LandBank Shaw Boulevard Branch.

Ortonio says Acosta personally asked him to accompany her during the transaction.


Escudero questions urgency of OVP confidential fund use

Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero questions why the Office of the Vice President needed to rush the use of confidential funds in 2022, noting that the General Appropriations Act (GAA) is valid for two years.

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio responds that the request for confidential funds was specifically intended for 2022.

The exchange takes place during the 18th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.


Trial is on recess