: Ramil Madriaga
Prosecution spokesperson Ace Barbers announced Friday that the panel has, for now, ruled out presenting former VPSPG chief Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and Ramil Madriaga as witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Barbers explained that hostile witnesses OVP Asec. Lemuel Ortonio and former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta already admitted turning over confidential funds to Lachica on Duterteâs orders, despite his lack of authority as a bonded officer.
He noted that liquidation of the â±500-million OVP confidential funds was irregular, relying only on acknowledgment receipts without supporting documentation. The Commission on Audit issued a notice of disallowance, citing the absence of credible proof of spending.
Barbers stressed that the prosecution considers the evidence sufficient to prove misuse of funds. If the defense presents Lachica, the panel is ready for cross-examination.
He added that even if Lachica assumes responsibility, âit carries no weight because the impeachable officer is VP Sara.â
The spokesperson underscored that attention should remain on Duterte, whose imprimatur has been established in the alleged misuse of funds.
He further noted that Lachica did not attend the 2024 hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, unlike retired Colonels Manaros Boransing II and Magtanggol Panopio, who appeared before the panel to deliver their testimony.
In that session, Boransing and Panopio testified they were unaware that certifications they signed for the Department of Education were used to liquidate â±15 million in confidential funds in 2023.
The Department of Education, under VP Saraâs tenure as secretary, asserted that certifications showed the funds supported a Youth Leadership Seminar. But Boransing  clarified the event was financed by local government units and other stakeholders, not by DepEdâs confidential funds. # (ZIA LUNA)
