The defense questioned the prosecution on Monday over an AI-generated image used to simulate the appearance and volume of ₱125 million in cash during the 16th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Ligutan presented the image to former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta as he asked her to confirm whether the simulated cash resembled the ₱125 million she allegedly saw at LandBank.
“Now, I will show you a simulated representation of ₱125 million. Sinabi mo ₱1,000 peso bill, di ba?... Can you please confirm if the cold cash you saw, ₱125 million, do they look like that?” Ligutan asked.
Before Acosta could answer, defense counsel Atty. Lyndon Bacquel questioned the source of the image and how it was generated.
“Before the prosecution proceeds with the question, may I just ask the source of the photo and how it was generated?” Bacquel said.
“Is this AI?” Bacquel later asked.
Ligutan confirmed that the image was AI-generated, explaining that the prosecution did not have ₱125 million in actual cash to use as a visual aid.
“Yes, of course. That is simulated. Because we don't have ₱125 million in cold cash, so we have to resort to technology,” Ligutan said.
Bacquel then objected to the use of the AI-generated image, arguing that the prosecution had not established a proper basis to show that it accurately represented the cash being discussed.
“We interpose the same objection as regards the use of AI-generated imagery. Without laying proper basis as to how it accurately represents what the prosecution claims to be, it has no basis, Your Honor,” Bacquel said.
Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the defense’s objection would simply be noted.
Escudero also pointed out that the ₱1,000 bills in the image appeared oversized, but allowed the prosecution to use the image for simulation purposes.
Acosta, meanwhile, clarified that the travel bags shown in the image did not exactly resemble the bags she used.
She said the bags she used had straight openings instead of the round openings shown in the simulated image, although they were similar in color.
Acosta testified that she personally packed the cash into four travel bags and was assisted by two bank security personnel in carrying the bags out of the bank to their waiting vehicle.
She said she was accompanied by OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio. Apart from two drivers who were members of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, no other security officers accompanied them.
Acosta also described the volume of the cash, saying the ₱125 million was initially placed in two boxes before being transferred to four travel bags for transport.
