Raymund Lachica as defense witness? No plans yet, says Sara Duterte’s team

LACHICA. File photo of Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica. Armed Forces of the Philippines Security and Protection Group 'I have never refused to appear or testify; if lawfully called, I am prepared to tell the truth, subject to applicable laws and security restrictions,' Lachica says in a statement Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica, a former security officer of the Office of the Vice President, was frequently mentioned during impeachment hearings regarding allegations of misuse of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte. The defense team has not yet decided whether to present Lachica as a witness, while he has expressed his willingness to testify if called upon. The prosecution has not confirmed Lachica's role as a witness, although another witness admitted to not disbursing the confidential funds, which is central to the case. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – The name of former Office of the Vice President (OVP) security officer Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica was brought up multiple times as the impeachment court heard the allegatiions of confidential funds misuse against Vice President Sara Duterte. During the hearings on August 24 and 25, Lachica’s name was repeatedly mentioned because he was the implementor of the OVP’s confidential fund-related activities. But instead of presenting him, the House prosecution team put former special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio on the witness stand. Will the defense bring out Lachica? Duterte’s defense team said they have no plans yet. “Sa parte naman ng defense, titingnan natin kung sa tingin natin na integral para sa ating defense na maipresenta ang testigo, whether it’s Colonel Lachica or kung sinoman. We will make that decision after siguro mag-rest ‘yong prosecution as to each article,” defense counsel and spokesperson Michael Poa told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday, August 25. “Pero sa ngayon, since hindi pa po tapos ‘yong Article 1 (confidential funds issue), hindi pa kami makapagsasabi kung sino talaga ang mga testigo,” he added. (For the defense team, we’ll check if it is integral to our defense to present a witness, whether it is Colonel Lachica or whoever. We will make that decisiion after the prosecution rests their case as to each article. But for now, since we’re not yet done with Article 1, we cannot say yet who our witnesses will be.) In a statement on Tuesday, Lachica said he is prepared to appear before the Senate impeachment court. “I have never refused to appear or testify; if lawfully called, I am prepared to tell the truth, subject to applicable laws and security restrictions,” Lachica said in a statement sent through the OVP. Based on the court’s pre-trial order, Lachica is listed as a prosecution witness. The defense did not also explicitly name Lachica in their pre-trial brief as a witness, although they included seven unnamed witnesses — either representatives, officials, or employees — of the OVP in the said document. Poa said they have a “working draft” or “working framework” of who will they seek to present during the trial. He said this is subject to changes, depending on the prosecution’s evidence. Is Lachica a part of this “working draft”? “I cannot disclose at this moment,” Poa responded. Although they have not ruled out the possibility of presenting Lachica as a witness, the prosecution has yet to provide a categorical answer as to whether or not he will take the witness stand. House prosecutor Keith Flores said regardless of Lachica’s testimony, Acosta had already admitted in her testimony that she was not the one who ultimately disbursed the confidential funds, in violation of the Commission on Audit rules. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading