THE prosecution in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is not eager to put her security officer, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, on the witness stand.
“Why would we call him? It’s going to be a risk for the prosecution,” House prosecution panel spokesman Ace Barbers said on Thursday, referring to Lachica.
Barbers said the panel doubts if Lachica would provide additional evidentiary value to its case involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
The prosecution had already heard the testimonies of other key OVP officials Gina Acosta and Lemuel Ortonio, who were considered hostile witnesses.
Barbers clarified that the risk did not mean Lachica could automatically weaken the prosecution’s case, but that he could introduce new assertions that the panel had not previously heard or had the opportunity to test.
The prosecution’s case includes sworn testimonies from Acosta, Ortonio and former Department of Education special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda on the alleged irregular disbursement and use of P612.5 million in confidential funds during earlier House proceedings.Acosta testified that P500 million in confidential funds, released in four P125-million tranches, was turned over to Lachica on Duterte’s instruction for the implementation of confidential activities.
Barbers said the panel sees no immediate need to call in Lachica. “If Lachica’s testimony contains relevant information, the prosecution will address it; if it does not, the panel will rely on the evidence already established on record,” he said.
