Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio said he took offense at Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo’s remarks questioning his intelligence and education during the 19th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Wednesday.

The exchange stemmed from Tulfo’s questioning of why the OVP did not seek free medicines from the Department of Health (DOH) instead of using confidential funds for the alleged purchase of medical supplies.

Tulfo criticized Ortonio’s responses, saying they appeared inconsistent with his educational background and professional experience.

“It defies logic. Hindi po kapani-paniwala ang mga pinagsasabi mo, Sir. For me, it really defies logic. Sayang po ‘yung pagkatalino mo rito. Nasira po ‘yung pagiging isang matalino mong tao,” Tulfo said.

He further questioned Ortonio’s answers, saying, “Nakakahiya po dun sa mga eskwelahan na kung saan ka nag-aral at nag-graduate because ngayon pinakita mo na nagsasalita ka na para kang, sorry Sir, nagtatanganahan.”

Ortonio responded by respectfully expressing his objection to the senator-judge’s characterization of his testimony.

“Your Honor, with all due respect, I personally took offense of that comment, Sir. I actually just did my duty, Sir,” Ortonio said.

He explained that he believed he had performed the responsibilities assigned to him based on his role within the OVP and within the limitations of his authority.

“At the time, I believe po ‘yun po ‘yung kailangan kong gawin bilang isang empleyado po. And I did my work based on what was tasked of me, Sir. Including the limitations that I can do to the duty that I will be doing,” Ortonio added.

Earlier in the exchange, Tulfo asked why the OVP did not coordinate with the DOH to obtain medicines for free instead of using confidential funds to purchase them. Ortonio said he could not provide an answer regarding the “wisdom of how the confidential funds were implemented.”

The exchange highlighted the differing views between Tulfo and Ortonio over the latter’s responsibilities and the extent to which OVP officials should have questioned or scrutinized the use of confidential funds.

Ortonio’s testimony forms part of the Senate’s continuing examination of the alleged use and liquidation of confidential funds in the impeachment case against Duterte.