Marilyn Cahatol

Senator judges on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, raised clarificatory questions on the validity and sufficiency of documents used to justify the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte. Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

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VP Sara Impeachment

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178624081943920260806-senate-impeachment-day13-SSMU-JV33.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator judges on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, raised clarificatory questions on the validity and sufficiency of documents used to justify the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte<em>. Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The House prosecution will present the former special disbursing officers (SDO) of Vice President Sara Duterte as “hostile witnesses” next week, House prosecutor Terry Ridon said Sunday.</p><p>Duterte’s former SDOs, Gina Acosta and Edward Fajarda, are slated to testify in the impeachment trial next week, where the prosecution “will attempt to show and declare them hostile witnesses,” Ridon said on DZMM.</p><p>A hostile witness is a person declared by the court as unwilling or adverse after showing hostile interest, reluctance, or misleading behavior. Such a label allows the prosecution to ask leading questions.</p><p>Former Land Bank of the Philippines branch managers earlier <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/29/ovp-s-p500m-bank-withdrawal-unusual-ex-landbank-exec-says-1225">testified</a> that Acosta withdrew P500 million in four encashments  of P125 million each for the Office of the Vice President, while Fajarda took out P112.5 millionin three encashments of P37.5 million each for the Department of Education under Duterte.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BEYOND SDOS </strong></div><p>Ridon noted that aside from the SDOs, Duterte should also be held liable as head of the OVP and DepEd for the alleged misuse of confidential funds.</p><p>During the trial last week, Senator-Judge Imee Marcos insisted during questions to witness Roderick Wamil, a state auditor,t hat only Duterte&#x27;s SDOs are accountable for the confidential funds.</p><p>Wamil, an accountant and a lawyer, said auditing rules state that aside from the SDO, the head of an agency is also responsible for the funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/6/palace-calls-out-senator-judges-debating-with-witnesses-in-duterte-trial-1525">Palace calls out senator-judges &#x27;debating&#x27; with witnesses in Sara Duterte trial</a></div><p>The impeachment court is tackling the first article of impeachment, accusing Duterte of misuse, questionable liquidation, and systematic misappropriation of confidential funds.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tEL51rISvsA?si=jN9ePnykzpyyKVta" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Duterte’s former SDOs, Gina Acosta and Edward Fajarda, are slated to testify in the impeachment trial next week, where the prosecution “will attempt to show and declare them hostile witnesses,” according to Ridon.</p>

Duterte’s former SDOs, Gina Acosta and Edward Fajarda, are slated to testify in the impeachment trial next week, where the prosecution “will attempt to show and declare them hostile witnesses,” according to Ridon.

Prosecution to present Duterte disbursing officers as ‘hostile witnesses’ next week — Ridon

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Prosecution to present Duterte disbursing officers as ‘hostile witnesses’ next week — Ridon

Marilyn Cahatol,

NewsWire News

Published August 09, 2026 10:13 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Senate

special disbursing officer

hostile witness

confidential funds

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