Day 17 of VP Sara Trial: Prosecutors Allege Acosta Was Coached

In a recent ANC 24/7 report, House prosecutors Chua and Tolosa weighed in on the testimony of Gina Acosta, the prosecution's first hostile witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. For ordinary Filipinos watching from their living rooms in Manila, Quezon City, or Davao, the spectacle of a former disbursing officer struggling to explain where hundreds of millions in confidential funds went strikes at the heart of a nagging question: who is accountable when taxpayers' money vanishes?

Day 17 of VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Prosecutors Allege Coaching, Acosta Faces Possible Jail Time as 'Maliit na Tao' Caught in Crossfire

Manila, Philippines – this week — The 17th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte exposed the widening gap between the powerful and the powerless. Gina Acosta, the former special disbursing officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), found herself at the center of a storm, repeatedly pointing to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica as the man who received the confidential funds — while prosecutors hinted she may have been coached and warned she could be the one jailed.

The Story — A Hostile Witness Under Fire

Acosta, who was entrusted with disbursing up to P500 million in confidential funds, spent her second day on the witness stand on Monday, August 24, facing a barrage of questions from senator-judges and prosecutors. Her testimony was marked by repetitive answers, apparent memory lapses, and a tendency to defer to Col. Lachica, the former OVP security officer and head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III grew visibly frustrated, ending his interjection with a blunt declaration: "Ayoko na marinig 'yong template" (I don't want to hear that template anymore). The senator-judge had heard enough of Acosta's scripted-sounding responses about the transfer of confidential funds to Lachica.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, August 25, House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua (Manila) did not mince words. "You don't call hostile witness unless you're desperate," Chua told reporters, adding that he believed Acosta was "coached" — including on what to say about Col. Lachica. He slammed her answers as "plakado, de kahon" (templated, canned), noting that at one point she seemed not to understand the prosecution's questions, blurting out, "Biglang will you repeat, sir?"

Philippine Context — The Confidential Funds System Under Scrutiny

The trial, which began in July 2026, marks the first time a Philippine official has been impeached twice. Article I of the Articles of Impeachment alleges misuse of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd), where Duterte also served as secretary. Commission on Audit (COA) findings have placed P612.5 million in confidential funds under scrutiny — roughly P500 million from the OVP and P112.5 million from DepEd.

The 2015 joint circular on confidential funds is clear: it is the special disbursing officer who should disburse the funds. Yet Acosta testified that on December 20, 2022, P125 million in OVP confidential funds was turned over to Col. Lachica — and that the instruction came from Duterte herself. When asked whether Lachica was even an OVP employee, Acosta admitted she could not confirm. "Dili man ako nagtrabaho sa HR" (I didn't work in HR), she said.

Atty. Benjamin "Jay" Tolosa Jr., a private prosecutor, highlighted that handing confidential funds to a security officer was a long-standing practice under VP Sara. "That was made a year and a half ago," Tolosa said on August 17, referring to Acosta's earlier testimony. "If she was mistaken, she had plenty of time to think about it and correct her statement. For sure, she was able to talk to the Vice President, who is her boss. But she repeated it, so there's no more question about her confession."

Impact on Filipinos — The 'Maliit na Tao' Who May Go to Jail

The most striking moment of Day 17 came when Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, a private prosecutor, delivered a sobering warning to Acosta: "Between you and Col. Lachica, ikaw ang pwedeng makulong" (you could be the one jailed). He asked her directly, "Alam niyo po ba, Ms. Gina Acosta, na ikaw ang maaaring makulong?" (Do you know, Ms. Gina Acosta, that you could be imprisoned?)

For many Filipinos, Acosta embodies the "maliit na tao" — the low-level employee who follows orders and ends up holding the bag. Sen. Raffy Tulfo captured this sentiment when he told Acosta, "Naaawa ako sa 'yo. I believe, in my heart, hindi ka korap ni singkong dulong wala kang ginalaw doon sa confidential funds na daan-daang milyon. Ang masakit nito, 'yong mga taong nakinabang doon, ibinulsa..." (I pity you. I believe in my heart you are not corrupt — you did not touch a single centavo of those hundreds of millions in confidential funds. What hurts is that the people who benefited pocketed it...)

Tulfo also told Acosta she was "stupid in the name of blind loyalty" for relying on Lachica's information without questioning it. When he asked whether she considered herself smart, average, or stupid, she said average. Tulfo countered that an "average" person given a list of names such as those in the receipts would have questioned them.

The human cost extends beyond Acosta. Sen. Imee Marcos asked how Acosta's husband was doing — he is undergoing treatment in Davao City. Acosta turned emotional: "Hindi po maganda, maam. I'm sorry." (Not good, ma'am.)

Reactions and Responses — Senator-Judges and Prosecutors Weigh In

The senator-judges did not hold back. Sen. Erwin Tulfo questioned Acosta about the reported purchase of P122 million worth of medicines using confidential funds — specifically how medicines were classified as "rewards for informants" — and about acknowledgment receipts covering medicines and other supplies. When Acosta said the COA joint circular does not require the names of recipients, Tulfo shot back: "May apelyido bang pusa, pagong sa Davao?" (Do cats and turtles have surnames in Davao?)

Tulfo also asked Presiding Officer Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero to compel Acosta to speak in Filipino, expressing frustration over her repeated switching between Filipino and Cebuano. "Mr. President, tama na po itong panloloko sa atin" (enough of this fooling us), he said. Escudero replied, "Point well taken."

Sen. Risa Hontiveros flagged an acknowledgment receipt bearing the name "Clarisse Hontiveros" dated February 24, 2023 — coinciding with the senator's birthday. "Ang nakakagulat po, Ms. Gina, 'yung petsa kung kailan daw binayaran ang Clarisse Hontiveros ay February 24, 2023, petsa po ng birthday ko. Napakalaking coincidence po." (What a huge coincidence.) Acosta said she verified such entries with Col. Lachica.

Sen. Lito Lapid, meanwhile, asked about two confidential fund recipients with the surname "Lapid": "Papasalamat ako kung totoong Lapid 'yon" (I would be grateful if it really was a Lapid — i.e., if his relatives really received the funds).

Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City) noted the prosecution's puzzlement over Acosta's apparent difficulty speaking Filipino during the trial, even though she readily answered in English, Filipino, and Visaya at the 2024 House inquiry. "Noong hearing sa Congress noon ay nakakaintindi naman siya ng mga tanong in English, Filipino. And she would answer in English, Filipino, and Visaya na halo," Zamora said. "But of course, I don't want to say that there was some malice involved. But well, let's see in the coming hours when she returns to the witness stand."

Robert Ace Barbers, House impeachment adviser and spokesperson, gave Acosta the benefit of the doubt — she may simply have been nervous. "Marunong naman siya mag-Tagalog eh. The transcript of the Committee on Good Government shows that she can reply, respond to a question either in English or in Tagalog. So siguro medyo kinabahan lang. We will give her that benefit..."

The Defense Responds — Fake News, a 30-Minute Cross, and a Stroke

The defense did not stay silent. Atty. Michael Poa, VP Sara's defense spokesperson, denied reports that Duterte wanted a private meeting with President Marcos: "Fake news. Parang 'yung binato ako ng laptop o kung ano man, it's also fake news." Malacañang (Palace Press Officer Claire Castro) said last week it could not confirm reports of a requested private meeting.

In court, defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel began his cross-examination by asking whether the Commission on Audit had issued any audit observation memorandum, notice of suspension, or notice of disallowance against Acosta as Davao City SDO — she said none. Bacquel's questioning of Acosta's "repetitive" answers drew an objection from Ligutan, who called it "vague" ("Nice try, vague"); Bacquel withdrew the question. The entire defense cross-examination lasted about 30 minutes, after which Ligutan pointed out Acosta's ease in answering in Filipino — a contrast to her apparent struggle during the prosecution's direct examination.

Separately, Presiding Officer Escudero told the court that former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke. The impeachment court directed the Senate Medical and Dental Bureau to examine Fajarda and validate his medical findings; his appearance was moved to September 7.

What to Watch For — Lachica Decision, AFP Officials, and the 16-Vote Threshold

The prosecution has not decided whether to call Col. Lachica to testify. "Kailangan maging maingat" (must be careful), Chua said, even as he insisted it is clear confidential funds were misused even without Lachica's testimony. The prosecution is also eyeing three AFP officials as next witnesses after a certification was issued ("Nag-issue ng certification").

The court adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 25, with OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio as the next witness. For the impeachment to succeed, the prosecution needs 16 votes — two-thirds of the 24-member Senate impeachment court. Earlier in the trial, COA auditors detailed the P612.5 million fund use; LandBank managers testified about large withdrawals; the name "Mary Grace Piattos" appeared on receipts for medicines; the Senate subpoenaed VP Sara's bank records, and Marcos authorized opening her tax records. Prosecutor Terry Ridon has said bank records and BIR documents will unearth new evidence.

As the trial enters its 18th day, the stakes could not be higher for the Filipino people. Every peso of confidential funds is taxpayers' money — money that could have built classrooms, funded health centers, or supported farmers in the barangays. The spectacle of a former SDO facing possible imprisonment while the powerful figures who allegedly benefited remain untested is a bitter pill for many to swallow. The coming weeks will determine not just the fate of Vice President Sara Duterte, but whether the Philippines' system of accountability can truly hold the powerful to account — or whether the "maliit na tao" will continue to bear the weight of the nation's unresolved questions.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.