Impeachment prosecutors: No need to call Lachica, others

MANILA, Philippines — Saying it already has a strong case against Vice President Sara Duterte, the prosecution panel in her impeachment trial would no longer call three individuals believed to be capable of delivering key testimonies.

Prosecution spokesperson and adviser Robert Ace Barbers said on Friday the requirements have already been met with regards to the first of four articles of impeachment against Duterte which alleges misuse of confidential funds (CFs) worth a total of P612.5 million.

“The three allegations in this article have already been substantiated by the previous witnesses presented. That’s misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation,” Barbers said in an online press briefing, adding that the prosecution will no longer call to the witness stand former Duterte aide Ramil Madriaga and former Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) officials Col. Dennis Nolasco and Col. Raymund Dante Lachica.

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Lachica, former head of the VPSPG, was identified by former special disbursing officer Gina Acosta as the recipient of the P500 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) although he was not a bonded official.

Nolasco played the same role when it came to CFs from the Department of Education (DepEd), according to previous House testimonies of former DepED special disbursement officer Edward Fajarda.

These statements and the fact that neither Lachica nor Nolasco is an OVP or DepEd employee already show violations in the use and liquidation of CFs, Barbers said. /cb