LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 25, 2026

Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said she was “more inclined” not to call Col. Raymund Lachica as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua questioned the OVP’s handling of accomplishment reports (ARs) bearing allegedly fictitious names.

Former special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio are the two Office of the Vice President (OVP) personnel who appeared as hostile witnesses in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.On Day 18, Ortonio revealed he worked under… pic.twitter.com/EG0NQGLIQa

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

Col. Raymund Lachica, the former chief of VP Duterte’s security detail said he never refused to testify before the Senate impeachment court

Who attended and who missed the Duterte impeachment trial?As the proceedings continue, here’s how the senator-judges have fared in attending hearings from July 6 to August 17, 2026.The attendance tracker reflects their presence, late arrivals, absences, medical leave and… pic.twitter.com/cx4ZMKueAa

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

“Gina Acosta requested me to accompany her.”OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirms he accompanied former special disbursing officer Gina Acosta when she encashed checks for confidential funds. He says he was with Acosta on all four occasions. #VPonTrialFollow… pic.twitter.com/r9Nkh9wjbY

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

“I was not able to see any official receipts.”OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio says he did not see any official receipts for supplies, medicines and food aid charged to confidential funds.He says he was told the money was given directly to informants and agents,… pic.twitter.com/ScjsMhn1Yg

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asks OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio about his monthly salary after he told the impeachment court that he shelled out P150,000 from his own pocket to cover a discrepancy in the OVP’s confidential funds. #VPonTrialFollow our live… pic.twitter.com/o8USRCQb0Q

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

Ortonio declined to directly answer that the funds were disbursed within 11 days and referred to the liquidation for a cash advance.

The Senate impeachment court reminded the House prosecution panel not to use inflammatory terms in the impeachment trial

Malacañang said the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has already presented sufficient evidence

Vice President Sara Duterte was aware and authorized all the processes and activities in relation to her office’s confidential funds (CFs).

Payments for the purchase of medicines, food, and supplies such as tables and chairs went directly to OVP informants and agents.

Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon called on the Ombudsman to probe Vice President Sara Duterte and OVP officials committed malversation.

Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asks OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio if he knew of any “threat of cataclysmic proportion” that had to be addressed within 11 days, from December 20 to 31, 2022.This came after Ortonio confirmed the OVP spent P125 million in… pic.twitter.com/CekTZ03qEE

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

BAKIT BA KAILANGAN MADALIIN?Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero questioned the OVP’s spending of P125 million in confidential funds within 11 days, noting that the budget under the General Appropriations Act was intended to cover two years.OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel… pic.twitter.com/t9yOs6D1Fh

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

₱3.5-MILLION SUPPLIES: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?The prosecution pressed OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio Lemuel Ortonio over government supplies worth ₱3.5 million.Ortonio admitted there was no inventory submitted to COA and said he could not personally identify where… pic.twitter.com/JGTX9t38ka

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

‘WE JUST WANT TO CALL A SPADE A SPADE, BUT WE WILL TRY TO BEHAVE’Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano cautions against using words that may “binansagan” or label someone after defense counsel objected to the prosecution’s use of terms such as “scam” and “mastermind,” following… pic.twitter.com/uVWhAonQdA

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio said Vice President Sara Duterte was aware of the confidential activities and how they were implemented. This followed Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s rephrasing of the prosecution’s question, asking whether Ortonio agreed… pic.twitter.com/sFHsV2RDLZ

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

“This whole confidential funds matter, ang arkitekto at mastermind nito ay si Vice President Sara Duterte?”Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asks OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio if he would agree that Duterte was “architect at mastermind” of confidential funds.… pic.twitter.com/95je4Q0UTr

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirmed that no records of confidential funds were found under former VP Leni Robredo.

“For Comfort. It gives me confidence, clarity of mind, that’s how I feel when I’m holding it,” Divinagracia said

'I WAS NOT REIMBURSED ANYMORE.'OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio says he used P150,000 of his personal funds to respond to an urgent request relayed by former OVP SDO Gina Acosta.The P150,000 was the discrepancy noted by COA between the P125 million accomplishment… pic.twitter.com/BCJJZk7Hxu

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asks OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio about the absence of official receipts for purchases of supplies, medicines and food aid.Ortonio confirms he did not see any official receipts. He says he was told the money was given directly… pic.twitter.com/fM71AoztzR

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirms he was designated by Vice President Sara Duterte to respond to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) audit observation memoranda (AOMs), despite having no personal knowledge of how the OVP’s confidential funds were spent.Ortonio… pic.twitter.com/8czcMbRKNl

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

‘IT BRINGS ME COMFORT, CONFIDENCE’ WATCH: Counsel for the prosecution team Mae Divinagracia says the wooden cross she is holding during the impeachment trial is something she always carries in hearings and trials as it gives her comfort, confidence, and clarity. #VPonTrial |… pic.twitter.com/1zDiLZ34Eo

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

‘473 SUNDALO AT PULIS NA ANG NAGBABANTAY KAY VP SARA’House private prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia said Vice President Sara Duterte’s protection is already covered by the AFP and PNP’s intelligence funds, questioning the need for confidential funds.“The P500 million bought… pic.twitter.com/2WLhlwwPD1

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

DAY 18LOOK: Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, designated as the second hostile witness, answers questions from prosecutor Atty. Mae Divinagracia (left) during direct examination on Day 18 of Vice President Sara… pic.twitter.com/lW8pNOrbKZ

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

OVP assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio declared as hostile witness during Day 18 of Vice President Sara Duterte impeachment trial.

Who is Mae Divinagracia?Divinagracia is a counsel for the House prosecution in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.On Day 18, she conducts the direct examination of OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, who was declared a hostile witness by the… pic.twitter.com/H4qWAjxHyk

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

Lawyer Mae Divinagracia is among the private lawyers assisting the House prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte.

'THREAT OF CATACLYSMIC PROPORTION?' LOOK: Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asks OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio if he knew of any “threat of cataclysmic proportion” that had to be addressed within 11 days, from Dec. 20 to 31, 2022.“Mayroon ba kayong narinig na… pic.twitter.com/OJtC0ZPdEY

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

‘VP SARA HAS AT LEAST 2 SIGNATURES’Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero notes that Vice President Sara Duterte has different signatures on the two documents presented by the prosecution. OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirms both are Duterte’s signatures.… pic.twitter.com/ooBafncHlA

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

LOOK: Prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asks OVP Asst. Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio to confirm that he accompanied former OVP SDO Gina Acosta in encashing the confidential fund checks at the LandBank Shaw Boulevard branch. Ortonio confirms he accompanied Acosta on all 4… pic.twitter.com/5Kdq2hRCcA

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

The court has declared OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio a hostile witness in VP Sara Duterte's impeachment trial due to his adverse interest. Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero noted that if Duterte is impeached and removed from office, Ortonio will also lose… pic.twitter.com/akZ17EHWSV

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

The impeachment court on Tuesday declared OVP assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio as a hostile witness.

‘VP SARA’S PREDECESSOR LENI ROBREDO DID NOT HAVE CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS’OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio confirmed that when he assumed his position at Vice President Sara Duterte’s office, there were no confidential funds inherited from former Vice President Leni… pic.twitter.com/sRfaAe1lYi

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

LOOK: OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio says the OVP had no confidential funds when Vice President Sara Duterte assumed office in 2022. He says the office has no records of confidential funds during the term of former Vice President Leni Robredo.He confirms the OVP… pic.twitter.com/fqH8wFri6s

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

LOOK: OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio is declared a hostile witness by the impeachment court, citing his coterminous position and continued service under Vice President Sara Duterte. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/qnJhRQCDIX… pic.twitter.com/uwdsWzXA5h

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

LOOK: OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio says he received several invitations to appear before the House Committee on Good Government in October 2024 regarding confidential funds, but did not attend because they were “merely invitations.” #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ… pic.twitter.com/hSxlAKqVD2

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

LOOK: OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio takes the stand as prosecution's witness for Article I or the alleged misuse of confidential funds. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/qnJhRQCDIXWatch our livestream here:… pic.twitter.com/UneQYvTQ05

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

LOOK: DAY 18: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Tuesday, August 25. A quorum has been declared, with 15 senator-judges present. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/qnJhRQCDIXWatch our livestream here:… pic.twitter.com/XbtlVDETCY

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

‘NAGTUTURUAN NA SILA E’ WATCH: Deputy Speaker Rep. Paolo Ortega said they are expecting OVP Asst. Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio to be more cooperative this time as Ortonio takes the witness stand for VP Duterte’s impeachment trial this Tuesday compared to when he first spoke as… pic.twitter.com/FoETcP9oMh

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) August 25, 2026

Of the 11 stipulations proposed by the House prosecution in Monday’s Sara Duterte trial, the defense turned down nine. 

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio takes the witness stand on Day 18 of the Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio will begin his testimony on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds on Aug. 25.

A former SDO’s testimony before the Senate impeachment court pointed to a continuing system of entrusting CFs to security officers.