Metro Manila, Philippines – The Impeachment Court declared a former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer as a hostile witness on Monday, Aug. 17, or Day 16 of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Private prosecutor Amando Ligutan led the direct examination of Gina Acosta, currently a staff in the OVP. He qualified her as a hostile witness, who is not expected to cooperate with the prosecution.
This means that the prosecution can ask her leading questions.
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero asked Acosta about her employment status, to which she affirmed that she is coterminous with Duterte; and she would be jobless if the vice president were to be impeached.
Ligutan also pointed out Acosta’s earlier sworn statement which stated that Duterte did not misuse the OVP confidential fund, a position opposed to Impeachment Article I.
Ligutan had to switch between English, Tagalog, and Bisaya as Acosta – who is from Davao – appeared to struggle with understanding his questions.
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo then raised the transcript of Acosta’s testimony at the House committee on good government and public accountability wherein she answered questions in English and Tagalog and responded clearly in the same languages.
“Tama na po itong panloloko sa’tin [Stop this deception],” Tulfo said, reading excerpts of the transcript.
Escudero then ordered the prosecution to choose one language for the direct examination. Ligutan proceeded in Tagalog.
Earlier in the session, the prosecution also summoned witness Marivic Pareja, head of the House legislative information resources department.
However, because the defense stipulated on the documents the prosecution presented, Pareja was dispensed as a witness in just 20 minutes without need to testify.
