Metro Manila, Philippines – Despite the repeated mention of Vice President Sara Duterte’s former security chief in the impeachment trial, the prosecution has yet to decide to call him as witness, with the lead prosecutor saying she is inclined to drop the military official from the list.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 25, lead prosecutor Jinky Luistro said the prosecution has yet to come up with a unanimous decision about Col. Raymund Lachica, whom a disbursing officer has identified as the official that distributed the hundreds of millions in confidential funds to recipients.
Duterte’s staff – Gina Acosta and Lemuel Ortonio, who were classified as uncooperative witnesses – mentioned Lachica’s name on several occasions at the Impeachment Court, as former commander of the vice presidential security group who carried out confidential activities.
Acosta had testified that she turned over half a billion pesos to Lachica in the fourth quarter of 2022 to the first three quarters of 2023, as Duterte’s designated security officer.
Luistro said Acosta’s testimony that she handed over the funds to a non-accountable officer already established the prosecution’s point.
“May misuse na ba noong sinabi ni Gina Acosta na tinurn-over niya the entire amount to the security officer who is a non-accountable officer. May misappropriation na ba? May irregular liquidation na ba? For me, maliwanag na ang testimonya ni Gina Acosta,” she told reporters.
[Translation: Was there already misappropriation when Gina Acosta stated that she turned over the entire amount to the security officer, who is a non-accountable officer? Was there already irregular liquidation? For me, Gina Acosta’s testimony is very clear.]
Luistro noted that some members of the prosecution panel are inclined to present Lachica, especially after Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero raised a question as to whether they intend to call him to the witness stand after Acosta’s testimony on Monday, Aug. 24.
In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, prosecution spokesperson Zia Adiong said prosecutors would decide on Lachica after the testimonies of Ortonio and three military officials summoned for next week.
Luistro said the prosecution is also awaiting the testimony of Edward Fajarda, former special disbursing officer of the Department of Education, who also received and utilized confidential funds under Duterte’s term in 2022 to 2023.
Defense on presenting Lachica
In the post trial briefing, defense lawyer Michael Poa said his team has yet to decide on whether to call Lachica when it is their turn to present evidence.
“We will just react doon sa gagawin ng prosecution. Meaning kung sa tingin namin, meron kaming mga points na kailangan namin i-clarify or mga depensa na talagang kailangan i-raise during our time to present our evidence in chief, doon po magde-depende kung sino ang testigo na ilalabas natin,” he said.
[Translation: We will just react to what the prosecution will do. This means if we think there are points the defense needs to clarify and raise when we present our evidence in chief.]
Asked if the prosecution finds it risky should the defense team present Lachica, Luistro rejected such insinuations.
“As a matter of fact, it will provide us an opportunity to cross examine Col. Lachica and Col. Nolasco as part of the prosecution’s witnesses,” she said. Col. Dennis Nolasco was the former security officer of the vice president.
In a statement released by the Office of the Vice President, Lachica said he is prepared to “tell the truth” should he be asked to testify at the trial.
