A House prosecutor in the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte described testimony by a former Office of the Vice President (OVP) disbursing officer as a “smoking gun,” saying it directly linked Duterte to the release of confidential funds to a security officer.

Terry Ridon, a member of the House prosecution team, said former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta identified Duterte as the person who ordered her to release 125 million pesos in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Lachica, then chief of Duterte’s security group.

“I think her testimony is really one of the smoking guns here at the trial because it directly points to the Vice President as the one who ordered her to give the P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Lachica,” Ridon said at a news forum in Quezon City.

Acosta, appearing as a hostile witness for the prosecution, told the Senate impeachment court on 17 August that Duterte instructed her to turn over the money to Lachica after she withdrew it in cash from a bank.

“That is basically what was being debated in the COA notice of disallowance — why they gave it to a non-organic OVP personnel,” he added.

The Bicol-Saro Partylist Representative said Acosta’s account was consistent with testimony she had given during a House inquiry in 2024. “There really is consistency in Ms. Acosta’s statements,” he said.

He said Acosta’s testimony had shifted the evidentiary challenge to Duterte’s defense.

“On confidential funds misuse, after the Gina Acosta testimony on Monday, the burden of evidence is now on them to disprove these testimonies when it is their turn to actually present the evidence,” Ridon said.

Madriaga decision pending

The prosecution is still weighing whether to call alleged bagman and former Duterte aide Ramil Madriaga as a witness, Ridon said, as it reviews its remaining witness lineup.

“We've still yet to make a determination kung isasalang ba siya o hindi,” Ridon said.

The same consideration applies to Lachica and Col. Dennis Nolasco, he said.

Madriaga’s possible testimony has drawn criticism from Duterte lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr., who said the defense would tear him apart during cross-examination and described his possible presentation as “the prosecution’s funeral.”

“If the prosecution presents Ramil Madriaga, it’s their funeral. That will be slaughtered in the defense team’s cross-examination,” Panelo told reporters during an online news briefing.

Ridon questioned Panelo’s comments, saying the lawyer was not part of the defense panel.

“Bakit siya nagsasalita tungkol doon sa impeachment presentation of evidence?” Ridon said.

Madriaga is among the common witnesses listed by the parties, Ridon said, adding that the prosecution would decide whether to call him.

“Kung tingin talaga ni Atty. Panelo na makatutulong ’yung sinasabi niya sa defense panel, edi sabihin niya sa defense panel. Huwag niya sabihin sa prosecution,” Ridon said.

Trillanes remains on witness list

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV also remains on the prosecution’s witness list, Ridon said, although prosecutors have yet to decide whether to call him as they try to complete the trial within their timetable.

“Kasama ho siya doon sa inilista po ng mga testigo ng ating prosecution,” Ridon said.

Ridon said the prosecution was still weighing which witnesses to present and which to drop as it seeks to expedite the proceedings.

He added that Trillanes may also have been listed as a defense witness, although he said he would confirm that.

“I think siya rin po inilista ang testigo ng defense. I hope to confirm it again,” he said.

During the House proceedings that preceded the impeachment trial, Trillanes presented documents and allegations concerning bank accounts and transactions he said were linked to Duterte and members of her family. 

The prosecution has alleged that Duterte misused P612.5 million in confidential funds, engaged in bribery, and accumulated unexplained wealth, as outlined in Articles I,  II, and III of the Articles of Impeachment, respectively.