Prosecution panel not ruling out Lachica as witness in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

The House prosecution panel is not ruling out the possibility of presenting former Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) commander Colonel Raymund Lachica as a witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to former Surigao del Norte congressman Robert Ace Barbers.

Barbers, the designated adviser to the House prosecution panel, said they have yet to call Lachica to testify in connection with the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) alleged misuse of confidential funds because they do not need his testimony yet.

“Hindi sarado ang aming isipan para ipresenta si Colonel Lachica. Kung naniniwala kami na mayroong kakulangan o kinakailangan pang madagdagan ang evidentiary value or puwedeng sumuporta sa aming allegations, bakit hindi?” Barbers said on Saturday.

(Our minds are not closed to presenting Colonel Lachica. If we believe there is a gap, or we need to add evidentiary value or support our allegations, why not?)

Asked whether the prosecution was concerned that Lachica might take full responsibility for the alleged misuse of the funds, Barbers said they were prepared for such a possibility.

“Kung sakaling 'yan ang kanyang gagawin, it doesn't give us any evidentiary value doon sa allegations namin. Problema niya 'yun. Kung 'yun ang gagawin niya, siya 'yung mananagot sa batas,” Barbers said.

(If he does that, it doesn't give us any evidentiary value for our allegations. That is his problem. If that is what he does, he will be held accountable under the law.)

The defense also listed Lachica as a witness, so the prosecution is prepared to cross-examine him if he takes the stand, Barbers said.

During the August 17 hearing, former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta said that Duterte was the one who asked her to disburse P125 million in confidential funds to Lachica.

On August 25, Lachica expressed his readiness to appear before the Senate impeachment court “to tell the truth, subject to applicable laws and security restrictions.”

Barbers said the prosecution will present four more witnesses in the coming trial days: three officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and defense counsel Michael Poa.

Poa is set to be designated as a hostile witness. —VBL, GMA News