Lachica, Madriaga out as witnesses

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel has dropped as witnesses two of Vice President Sara Duterte’s former security officers and her alleged former bagman, Ramil Madriaga, saying evidence already presented is sufficient to establish allegations of misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

Prosecution adviser and spokesman Ace Barbers said Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and Col. Dennis Nolasco, who have both figured in testimony on the handling of Duterte’s confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd), will no longer be called to the witness stand.

“For the prosecution panel, with the witnesses presented, we have already proven that. So, there is no need for additional witnesses like Col. Lachica, Col. Nolasco and Madriaga,” Barbers said yesterday in an online press briefing.

Manila Rep. Benny Abante Jr. said presenting Lachica would already be “overkill,” given the testimony of former OVP special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta.

Acosta testified as a hostile prosecution witness that Duterte instructed her to turn over four P125-million tranches, or a total of P500 million in OVP confidential funds, to Lachica.

She claimed she has no personal knowledge of how the money was distributed after turning it over to him.

Nolasco, meanwhile, was linked to DepEd’s confidential funds through the earlier House testimony of former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda.

Fajarda testified during House proceedings that he turned over three P37.5-million confidential fund releases, totaling P112.5 million, to Nolasco upon Duterte’s instruction when she was education secretary.

Madriaga had been considered a potentially significant prosecution witness after identifying himself during House impeachment proceedings as Duterte’s former aide and alleged bagman.

Madriaga had claimed that he personally handled and distributed the first P125 million in OVP confidential funds released in December 2022 and disposed of the entire amount in less than 24 hours.

He alleged that he delivered bags containing millions of pesos to several locations upon Duterte’s instruction, and implicated Lachica and Nolasco in the alleged movement of the money. Duterte has denied Madriaga’s allegations.

Despite Madriaga’s earlier inclusion among prospective witnesses, Barbers said the prosecution now believes his testimony, along with those of Lachica and Nolasco, would no longer be necessary given the evidence already on record.

The prosecution will instead proceed with its remaining witnesses as it seeks to complete its presentation of evidence on the confidential fund charge.

The witnesses are Fajarda and his wife, DepEd Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda; Philippine Statistics Authority assistant national statistician Marizza Grande; police Maj. Jovelyn Magay and Commission on Audit official Bresilio Sabaldan.

The Senate impeachment court has issued subpoenas for the five to appear as prosecution witnesses in the Sept. 7 to 9 trial proceedings.

The prosecution, however, said it could also dispense with Edward Fajarda’s personal appearance if the prosecution and defense agree to stipulate on the matters his testimony is intended to establish.

Voting threshold

Several senator-judges yesterday denied or remained tight-lipped about formal discussions to lower the 16-vote conviction threshold in the Duterte impeachment trial, following the disclosure of Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri of discussions regarding the matter.

Sen. JV Ejercito clarified that the issue was not formally tackled during their recent all-senator caucus, noting that their meeting was strictly confined to the trial’s schedule.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Raffy Tulfo echoed Ejercito’s remarks.

Their statements came after Zubiri announced on Thursday that the threshold issue had been raised by some members during a Wednesday caucus.

The Senate is currently operating with only 20 active members, as Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are currently detained on plunder charges, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa is a fugitive evading an International Criminal Court warrant and Sen. Loren Legarda is abroad on an extended medical leave.

Ejercito deferred to Zubiri regarding the sentiment of the chamber, but suggested that altering the threshold might be a constitutional question best resolved by the Supreme Court. — Neil Jayson Servallos