Senator Erwin Tulfo appealed to both prosecution and defense panels on the 19th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to present Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, identifying him as the crucial “missing link” needed to clear up testimony discrepancies.
“He has been repeatedly named by several witnesses,” Tulfo emphasized.
“And it may be helpful to this court to hear directly from that individual so that gaping holes in the testimony may be clarified and the facts may be properly connected,” he added.
The call for Lachica’s testimony follows statements from former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio, who both testified that Lachica received four tranches of confidential funds totaling ₱125 million each under Duterte’s explicit orders.
Assigned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Lachica served as group commander for the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG)—a unit established to secure the vice president that was later restructured into the AFP Security and Protection Group after three years.
Tulfo highlighted a recent statement from the former security chief, noting his readiness to appear before the tribunal if formally summoned. Duterte’s former security head stated he had “never refused to appear or testify” and remains prepared to take the stand in the ongoing trial.
In response to Tulfo’s manifestation, Senator and presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero clarified that the tribunal lacks the authority to force either side to present Lachica as a witness.
However, citing Supreme Court jurisprudence, Escudero noted that the court retains the discretionary power to call witnesses on its own initiative once both sides wrap up their presentation of evidence.
Meanwhile, prosecution panel member Atty. Amando Ligutan confirmed that Lachica remains on their roster of prospective witnesses, though the team has yet to determine if or when they will officially call him to the stand.