Metro Manila, Philippines – The Impeachment Court declared Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio as a hostile witness on Tuesday, Aug. 25, making him the second to testify in that capacity after ex-special disbursing officer Gina Acosta.
This means that the prosecution can ask Ortonio leading questions.
Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero granted the prosecution’s qualification of Ortonio as a hostile witness because of his extensive history working under Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ortonio has held the position since 2022 when Duterte assumed office. He is coterminous with the vice president, meaning he would be jobless if Duterte were to be impeached.
Back in 2018, he was chief of human resources management for the Davao City government when Duterte was mayor, and before that he headed the Davao City Investment Promotion Center from 2016 to 2018
He was chief of staff of the Office of the Mayor from 2010 to 2013, and chief of staff of the Office of the Vice Mayor from 2008 to 2010, both when Duterte held these offices.
Private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia also raised Ortonio’s relationship to Ernesto Ortonio Jr., president and board of directors member for PNX-Udenna Insurance Brokers Inc. The assistant secretary is his son.
Defense counsel Kristine Ferrer objected to the relevance of the line of questioning.
Divinagracia argued that this could prove Ortonio and Duterte moved in the same social circles, and speaking unfavorably about Duterte could turn him into a “social pariah.”
She then asked about the relationship of PNX-Udenna Insurance Brokers to Udenna Management and Resources Corporation, which Ferrer objected to.
Escudero cut the prosecution short and declared Ortonio a hostile witness anyway.
Udenna Management and Resources Corporation is a part of Udenna Corporation, a holding company founded by Dennis Uy. The Davao-based businessman is a close ally of the Duterte family and donated around ₱30 million to the campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
