Sara Duterte trial recap, Aug. 17: Gina Acosta as first 'hostile witness,' 4 bags of cash
During the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, witness Gina Acosta testified that she was ordered to release P125 million in confidential funds to a security officer. The prosecution designated Acosta as a 'hostile witness' due to her previous defense of the Vice President.
Why it matters
The testimony provides critical evidence regarding the alleged misuse of confidential funds, which is central to the impeachment proceedings against a high-ranking government official.
MANILA, Philippines - The prosecution's first hostile witness testified on Monday, August 17, that Vice President Sara Duterte ordered her to release P125 million in confidential funds to an assigned "security officer" in the last quarter of 2022.
Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), made the admission during her testimony on the sixteenth day of Duterte's impeachment trial.
Inclement weather forced the court to adjourn early, around 2 p.m., with Acosta still under direct examination. She returns tomorrow at 10 a.m. under the same subpoena.
Marivic Pareja, service director of the House Legislative Archives and Museum Management Office, only briefly took the witness stand today. She was excused without any direct examination after defense stipulated to several documents related to her role as custodian of official House records.
Here are the three highlights from today's proceedings.
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