The testimony of a former Office of the Vice President disbursing officer may be considered a “smoking gun” directly linking Vice President Sara Duterte to the release of confidential funds to her security officer, a House prosecutor said.

Rep. 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 P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Lachica, then chief of Duterte’s security group.

“I think her testimony is one of the smoking guns 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 Colonel 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prosecution, told the Senate impeachment court on 17 August that Duterte instructed her to turn over the money she had withdrawn in cash from a bank to Lachica.

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

The Bicol-Saro Partylist representative said Acosta’s account was consistent with the testimony she had given at a House inquiry in 2024.

“There really is consistency in Ms. Acosta’s statements,” he said, adding that her testimony had shifted the evidentiary challenge to Duterte’s defense team.

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

Decision on Madriaga hangs

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

“We have yet to determine whether he will be included,” Ridon said. The same applies to Lachica and Col. Dennis Nolasco, he added.

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, describing his presentation as “the prosecution’s funeral.”

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

Ridon refuted Panelo’s comment, saying the lawyer was not part of the defense panel.

“Why is he talking about the presentation of evidence in the impeachment trial?” Ridon said.

Madriaga is among the common witnesses listed by the prosecution and the defense, Ridon said, adding the prosecution has yet to decide whether to call him.

“If Attorney Panelo really thinks what he is saying would help the defense panel, then he should tell the defense panel. He should not be telling the prosecution,” Ridon said.

Trillanes still in roster

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV remains on the prosecution’s witness list, Ridon said, although it has not been decided whether he will be called as they want to finish the trial within the timetable.