Impeachment Court spokesman Atty. Reginald Tongol confirmed that Army Col. Raymund Dante Lachica remains on the prosecution’s list of 27 witnesses in the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During her testimony as a hostile witness, former OVP Special Disbursement Officer Gina Acosta admitted releasing a total of ₱500 million in confidential funds in 2022 and 2023, which she said she handed to Lachica under VP Sara’s orders.
Acosta first disclosed Lachica’s receipt of OVP confidential funds in the House probe in October 2024.
Since then, Lachica and former VPSPG deputy chief Col. Dennis Nolasco have been under AFP investigation, but nearly two years later, no findings have been released.
In an interview with DZBB, Tongol added that the impeachment trial could stretch until February 2027 under the current schedule, though proceedings may be expedited if both prosecution and defense agree to cut down on witness and document presentations.
“The impeachment court is just reliant on the parties,” he said, following VP Sara’s call to fast-track the trial amid talks of adjusting the schedule. # (ZIA LUNA)
