Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Deceased, children named as recipients of confidential funds

As Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial entered its 22nd day, the House prosecution panel called to the witness stand Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande to testify on Article 1 of the impeachment complaint, which alleges misuse of confidential funds. Prosecution During the trial, Grande testified that some recipients of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education’s (DepEd) confidential funds matched the names of deceased individuals and children in the PSA records. Grande testified that she found some names in the list of payees of the OVP as “unusual.” House prosecution panel lead Gerville Luistro manifested that they will move up their presentation of evidence on Article II, which alleges that Duterte amassed unexplained wealth. Luistro affirmed that the House prosecution panel will no longer call on security officers Colonel Raymund Lachica and Colonel Dennis Nolasco. The panel moved to dispense with the testimony of DepEd special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda amid his health condition Defense Duterte’s defense team said that the names used in the acknowledgment receipts were aliases. Defense lawyer Justin Agular, however, said they will make their presentation at the appropriate time The defense also questioned PSA witness Marizza Grande whether she obtained the consent of the individuals before the disclosure of their records. The witness said she believes the disclosure is not a violation of the Data Privacy Act. Grande affirmed she cannot testify whether the names in the acknowledgment receipts of confidential funds do or do not belong to real people. She also said that names, such as nicknames, are not considered illegal simply because they do not appear in the PSA's registration system. Senator-judges Senator-judges Erwin and Raffy Tulfo said they want to question Lachica and Nolasco about the agencies' confidential funds. Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the impeachment court may invite individuals as amicus curiae or call on witnesses. —LDF, GMA News