Impeachment Court declares ex-OVP disbursing officer Gina Acosta hostile witness

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. 

In a post-trial press briefing, prosecution spokesperson Jay Tolosa thanked Tulfo for his observation and echoed the senator-judge’s sentiments. 

“After ma-call out, dire-diretso na mag Tagalog at mag English [she was called out, so she started speaking Tagalog and English straight] so again, I point this out to say bakit medyo nagtagal yung presentation niya [why did her presentation take so long]?” Tolosa told the media. 

However, defense spokesperson Michael Poa said Acosta was consistent in wanting to respond to the prosecution’s questions in Bisaya.

“I remember kasi [because] I was also in the committee hearing sa [at the] House. I think during that time she also wanted to speak in Bisaya but was requested to speak in Filipino or English so consistent naman yung witness [the witness is consistent] as far as I remember,” Poa said. 

Upon review of the House committee on good government and public accountability hearing on Nov. 25, 2024, Acosta tried to respond in Bisaya. 

Due to difficulties in translation, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, now a lead prosecutor in the impeachment trial, asked Acosta to speak in Tagalog for the people to understand. Acosta said she would try her best. 

Meanwhile, Poa said his panel did not feel the need to bring forward another lawyer fluent in Bisaya to cross-examine Acosta.

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.