Impeachment Trial ⚖️
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Good morning from the impeachment court! House prosecuters arrive with boxes labeled as confidential fundsz
Escudero: May mga nilagay ba kayo sa accomplishment report na wala sa financial plan? Acosta says the financial plan is generic.
Ligutan: Because the program indicated in the plan is generic, so much discretion is given to VP Sara to utilize confidential funds? (Escudero rephrases the question to accommodate Acosta, whose primary language of communication is Bisaya.) Acosta answers in the negative, saying that she used the 2015 joint circular as basis for her reports.
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo calls out OVP's Acosta: Hindi ka naman hirap mag-Tagalog sa House hearing noon.
I get Senator Erwin's frustration. This hearing has been very much complicated by Acosta's seeming difficulty to communicate in English or Filipino.
Ligutan quickly translates Acosta's 'nalibog ko' reply
Private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan quickly translates OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta’s answer after she says “nalibog ko” when asked whether determining expenditures is her job.
“Nalibog ko” means “I’m confused” about the question in Bisaya, although its root word, “libog,” means something very different and considerably more colorful in Tagalog. | Herbie Gomez/Rappler
Prosecution now proceeds with showing OVP’s financial plan for 2023. Acosta agrees it’s the same as the financial plan for 2022, except that the “good governance program” has been replaced with “socio-economic program delivery.” The budget allocation and expected outcome remains the same, according to Acosta.
[EDITORIAL] ’Wag na ’wag nating sukuan ang pagbabantay sa pera ng bayan
Kapag walang mata ng publiko na nakatitig sa deliberasyon, kapag walang nag-iingay...aba, happy hour ang mga gustong bumalasubas sa badyet
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/voices/editorials/editorial-keep-watching-national-budget-public-funds-filipino-version/
Acosta says that for the 2023 financial plan of the OVP, she also consulted Lachica.
Ligutan: Was Lachica's name included in the OVP documents — financial plan, accomplishment report, liquidation report, and certification — you submitted? Acosta: No.
Lunch break.
Bisaya Recap: Parties using confidential funds, misleading questions, and Superman
Catch the Bisaya rundown of the highlights of the Sara Duterte impeachment trial days from August 11 and 12 in this video
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/national-news/video-bisaya-recap-sara-duterte-confidential-funds-misleading-questions/
Trial resumes.
Prosecution points out that the OVP did not specify the breakdown of the good governance program in its financial plan for the fourth quarter of 2022 despite claiming — in its response letter to COA in November 2023 — that it had already identified the said programs as early as July 2022.
Acosta confirms encashing OVP confidential funds in 2022.
OVP's Acosta confirms approval, encashment of confi fund disbursement voucher on same day in December 2022.
Acosta's testimony now appears to support previous testimony by Landbank officer Violeta Constantino.
Constantino, who managed the Shaw Boulevard branch of Landbank that encashed P500 million in four checks during an eight-month period from December 2022 to July 2023, said it was the first time in her 32-year career in the banking industry to oversee the encashment of such a huge amount.
Ligutan: Hindi ba minadali iyong pagproseso ng disbursement voucher, pagprepara ng tseke, pag-encash on the same day? Acosta: Dumaan ito sa regular na proseso sa aming office.
Ligutan: Vague.
Recap on what Constantino said during the July 29 hearing: Constantino said that during the first encashment dated December 20, 2022, the funds were given to Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and OVP assistant secretary Lemuel Ortonio, who put the cash in four gym bags.
Acosta says the P125 million in cash was in the office space behind the bank teller.
Prosecution flashes an AI-generated photo to provide visuals of P125M in cold cash.
Acosta confirms placing the P125M in cold cash in four 'oblong' bags, supporting LBP branch manager Violeta Constantino's testimony.
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Acosta says two guards from the bank carried the bags to the vehicles.
Which senator-judges are absent from the impeachment court on Monday, August 17? Alan Peter Cayetano Loren Legarda Jinggoy Estrada (in jail facing plunder case) Rodante Marcoleta (in jail facing plunder case) Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (in hiding) Legarda has been absent for six consecutive trial days, while Cayetano has missed three consecutive trial days.
Paparating na tayo sa exciting part. It will be interesting if Acosta will confirm meeting Ramil Madriaga that day.
Acosta says the vehicles went to OVP after the Landbank visit. Take note that Madriaga said she met with Acosta at DepEd compound.
Ligutan: Why did you have to call Lachica after encashing P125M? Acosta: May instruction sa taas, ang aking head of agency, na kapag naencash ang P125M, ay irelease kay Col. Lachica.
Acosta confirms instruction was given by VP Sara Duterte herself.
Bacquel has made objections from time to time, but Escudero overruled him each time, save for few instances.
Prosecution confronts Acosta with the joint circular, pointing to her the difference between the roles of security officer and special disbursing officer. Ligutan’s line of questioning aims to extract from Acosta the concession that the disbursement of confidential funds is not a task of the security officer. “Basta ang trabaho ko, ako po ang disbursing officer, ang pagpapa-implement po ng various confidential activities ay saklaw ng security officer kasi confidential po ‘yun,” Acosta says.
Acosta's defense is this: It is Lachica who knows how to implement the confidential activities. She says the joint circular does not require her to go on the ground and release the funds herself because she has no access, security, and knowledge.
Direct examination of Acosta ends for today, will continue tomorrow.
Court grants Lemuel Ortonio's request to skip the trial this week due to a licensure exam. Ortonio will be asked to attend next week.
Defense explains objection to AI use: We’re just concerned about accuracy
Defense spokesperson Michael Poa also says they saw the prosecution's point in taking the route
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/sara-duterte-defense-team-explanation-objection-artificial-intelligence-use-impeachment-trial/
Acosta tells court Sara Duterte ordered P125M turned over to security officer
This isn't the first time Acosta has named Duterte as the person who gave the instruction, but her admission before the impeachment court carries more weight, says a prosecutor
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/gina-acosta-says-sara-duterte-ordered-turnover-confidential-funds/
Sara Duterte trial: Where is Ramil Madriaga now in prosecution’s case?
The prosecution called Gina Acosta to take the witness stand but has yet to confront her about her supposed link to Ramil Madriaga
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/where-ramil-madriaga-prosecution-case-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial/
The Senate impeachment court announced on Monday, August 17, that Tuesday’s trial on August 18 has been cancelled due to expected heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon. @here
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Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial postponed again due to bad weather
This is the second time the impeachment court has postponed a trial session due to bad weather. The first was last August 10.
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-postponed-bad-weather-august-18-2026/
FACT CHECK: Post cites 2025 SC ruling to falsely claim VP Sara impeachment trial to be halted
The Supreme Court's 2025 ruling barred Duterte's impeachment then as the fourth complaint violated the one year bar rule; the ongoing impeachment trial is a separate proceeding that began in 2026
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/2025-supreme-court-ruling-not-halt-sara-duterte-impeachment/
FACT CHECK: COA auditor not jailed or cited in contempt after VP Sara trial testimony
No arrest or contempt ruling was issued against state auditor Roderick Wamil — only a heated Senate exchange occurred in which the suggestion to cite him in contempt was raised but ultimately not acted upon
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/coa-auditor-not-jailed-contempt-sara-duterte-impeachment/
The scheduled impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 19, has been canceled due to bad weather, Senate Clerk of Court Renato Bantug Jr. announced. @here
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LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte
Bookmark this page for Rappler's comprehensive coverage of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial at the Senate
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/vice-president-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-updates-videos/
In the Public Square: Lessons from the Corona impeachment
What are the lessons we can draw from the impeachment, trial, and conviction of CJ Corona?
Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/in-the-public-square-lessons-renato-corona-impeachment/