Erwin Tulfo hits ex-OVP disbursing officer for speaking in Bisaya during trial

Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo on Monday asked the Senate impeachment court to compel former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, who has been answering in Bisaya during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, to speak in Filipino instead.

In his manifestation, Tulfo said he has a copy of the transcript of the House committee hearings in 2024 where Acosta was able to speak in Filipino when questioned by House members.

“Hindi ko po maintindihan bakit parang dito hirap na hirap siya mag-Tagalog when in fact sa Congress po nu'ng November, Tagalog naman po ang sagot niya,” Tulfo said.

(I can’t understand why she seems to be struggling to speak in Tagalog here when in fact, in Congress in November, her answers were in Tagalog.)

“Tama na po itong panloloko sa atin. Please, Mr. President, compel this witness to talk in Tagalog. Kahit ang mga Bisaya nakakaintindi ng Tagalog, nakakasalita ng Tagalog. Ano tayo, sa ibang bansa? Ano tayo, mga Hapon, mga Chinese?”

(Stop fooling us. Please, Mr. President, compel this witness to talk in Tagalog. Even the Bisaya understand Tagalog, they can speak Tagalog. What do we do in other countries, do we speak Japanese or Chinese?)

Tulfo also told Acosta that he knows she can understand and speak in Filipino based on the transcripts, and thus there is no need to translate her Bisaya remarks and prolong the trial.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero then asked House private prosecutor Amando Ligutan to choose one language---either English or Filipino---in asking the witness in order to abbreviate the proceedings.

“Preferably use Filipino, Atty. Ligutan, as I’m sure you’re well versed with it as well. Para mas maunawaan ni Ms. Gina (so Ms. Gina can better understand),” Escudero said.

Prior to Tulfo’s manifestation, Senator-Judge Juan Miguel Zubiri suggested that Ligutan ask questions in Bisaya so that Acosta could understand.

If there are issues with the translation of Ligutan, he said the defense could always object or give a clarification.

“It’s very simple. Maybe in that way, we don't have to keep stopping. Atty. Ligutan can ask the question first in Tagalog and then translate it to simple Bisaya… She (witness) can answer. And then Atty. Ligutan can offer the answer also in Tagalog,” Zubiri said.

The Senate impeachment court is continuing on Monday hearing Article I of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, regarding her alleged misuse of the confidential funds of the OVP and the Department of Education during her term as Education secretary. —KG/RSJ, GMA News