Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo urged the Senate impeachment court to compel hostile witness Gina Acosta to speak in Tagalog during Day 16 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, noting that Acosta had previously answered questions in Tagalog during a congressional hearing.
Acosta, a former Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), frequently responded in Bisaya during Monday’s proceedings, prompting Tulfo to question why she appeared to have difficulty speaking Tagalog.
“I have here the transcript of the hearing in Congress. Hindi ko po maintindihan bakit parang dito hirap na hirap po siya mag-Tagalog when in fact sa Congress po noong November, eh Tagalog naman po ang sagot niya,” Tulfo said.
Tulfo cited portions of the congressional transcript where Acosta responded in Tagalog, including questions involving alleged payments and her role as SDO.
“Dito po, sumasagot naman po siya. English, Tagalog… Tama na po itong panloloko sa atin. Please, Mr. President, compel this witness to talk in Tagalog,” Tulfo said.
He added, “Kahit po yung mga Bisaya po nakakaintindi ng Tagalog, nakakasalita ng Tagalog, ano tayo sa ibang bansa? Ano tayo, mga Hapon, mga Chinese?”
Tulfo maintained that Acosta could understand and speak Tagalog, pointing to the transcripts of her previous testimony.
Following Tulfo’s remarks, Presiding Officer Senator Chiz Escudero said the senator-judge’s point was well taken and directed the prosecution to streamline its questioning.
“Thank you, Senator Judge Erwin Tulfo. Point well taken. Attorney Ligutan, to abbreviate the proceedings, kindly choose one language, English or Filipino, in asking the question. You don’t have to translate each time unless the witness requests you to do so. Preferably use Filipino, Attorney Ligutan,” Escudero said.
The exchange came as the impeachment court continued its hearing on the testimony of Acosta, the first hostile witness, presented by the prosecution in the case involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the OVP in 2022 and 2023.
