Ortonio not asking about OVP confi fund 'defies logic' —Raffy Tulfo

Senator judge Raffy Tulfo slammed Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for "not asking" how the confidential funds were spent on Day 19 of the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte.

Tulfo on Wednesday asked Ortonio about details of the P122 million of the OVP’s confidential fund which was used to buy medicines as a form of "rewards" for informants.

“At that time, I did not ask Colonel [Raymund] Lachica [how the medicines were bought],” Ortonio said, referring to the former Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

“I trusted what the security officer mentioned to me, Sir,” Ortonio added.

READ: Who is Lemuel Ortonio?

Tulfo then pointed out that it was Ortonio's duty to know, given that he is the one who was signing off on liquidation documents concerning OVP’s confidential funds.

Ortonio, however, said he was unsure of this.

“I’m not sure, Sir, if I'm the one who's responsible to know, Sir.”

Tulfo found this unacceptable.

“It defies logic talaga, really, Sir. You're not really making sense at all,” Tulfo said.

“It defies logic, nasira ang pagiging isang matalino mong tao. Nakakahiya sa eskwelahan kung saan ka nag-graduate, pinakita mo ngayon na nagsasalita ka diyan nagtatanga-tangahan ka,” Tulfo added.

(It is an embarrassment to the school where you graduated; the way you are speaking now shows you are acting like a fool.)

Senate impeachment presiding officer Francis Escudero later moved to replace Tulfo’s nagtatanga-tangahan comment with feigning ignorance.

'I did my work'

Ortonio responded by saying he takes offense at such a comment, saying he was just doing his duty.

“I do take offense on that comment. I actually did my duty, at that time I did my work based on what was tasked to me including my limitations,” Ortonio said.

Tulfo, however, stressed that limitations do not include being apathetic as to how public funds are used.

“Now, you're talking about taking offense. Paano naman po yung mga taumbayan? They're being offended sa paglulustay niyo ng pera,” Tulfo said.

(What about the Public? They're being offended by your waste of money.) —VAL, GMA News