Impeachment court declares OVP aide Ortonio a hostile witness

MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment court on Tuesday declared Office of the Vice President (OVP) assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio as a hostile witness, allowing the House prosecution to ask him leading questions during direct examination.

Ortonio is the second prosecution witness to be designated as hostile as the impeachment court tackles allegations that Vice President Sara Duterte misused confidential funds.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 25, 2026

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A hostile witness refers to a person called to testify by a party despite being against them.

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Presiding officer and Senatror-judge Francis Escudero said Ontorio’s continued employment under Duterte established that he had an adverse interest in the proceedings.

“I think it has been established that Ortonio serves at the pleasure of the vice president, and has been working for her for quite some time and is serving up to now—and that if the vice president is impeached and therefore removed from office pati kayo matatanggal,” Escudero said.

“To abbreviate the proceedings, the court declares Ortonio as a hostile witness based on his adverse interest vis-a-vis the respondent and prosecution,” he added.

Aside from being assistant chief-of-staff, Ortonio also currently serves as assistant secretary of the OVP./dp