VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial: The 'missing link' and the trial's wildcard

Colonel Raymund Lachica, former security officer of Vice President Sara Duterte, has emerged as a pivotal yet elusive figure in her impeachment trial. His testimony is considered by some as the "missing link" in the prosecution's case concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds, yet it remains uncertain whether he will take the witness stand. Lachica is accused of unlawfully disbursing confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Previous prosecution witnesses, including former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio, have testified that secret funds worth half a billion pesos across four quarters in 2022 and 2023 were handed over to Lachica. Senator-judges have expressed significant interest in hearing Lachica's account, with Senator Erwin Tulfo describing him as the "missing link." Despite the potential importance of his testimony, neither the prosecution nor the defense has committed to requesting a court subpoena for Lachica. This hesitation is attributed to the considerable risks his testimony could present to either side. For the prosecution, Lachica is considered a "wildcard." Unlike Acosta and Ortonio, who have already testified, Lachica has not made on-record statements about the scandal. This makes his testimony unpredictable; he could potentially not tell the truth, or he could reveal damaging information that the prosecution might not be prepared to counter. Constitutional lawyer Lulu Reyes told Rappler that military men are "wily characters" and "used to lying when necessary." She suggested that Lachica could be more proficient in "lying by concealment." The prosecution's lead prosecutor, Jinky Luistro, has expressed a personal inclination not to present Lachica, emphasizing that decisions are made as a team. The prosecution contends that the evidence presented so far is sufficient to prove Duterte abused her powers and violated joint circulars governing confidential spending by allowing the funds to be handed over to someone other than her SDO. Furthermore, Lachica is not covered by a fidelity bond and is from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), not the OVP. Constitutional lawyer John Molo suggested that the prosecution might be strategically building its case to make it "unavoidable for the defense to be the one to call Lachica." This approach would allow the prosecution to avoid the risks associated with examining a hostile witness, such as revealing their trial theory or giving the defense a chance to "rehabilitate" the witness. Conversely, Duterte's legal counsel, Michael Poa, stated that calling Lachica is not yet in their plans, as they need to evaluate whether his testimony is integral to the Vice President's defense. However, if the defense team decides to call him, they can request a subpoena. This move, though, would expose Lachica to cross-examination by the prosecution, potentially allowing them to challenge his credibility if new information about the fund usage emerges. Lachica, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and a veteran of the Philippine Army, has a background in intelligence operations in Mindanao, the bailiwick of the Dutertes. He commanded the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) from July 2022 until his reassignment to the Army in October 2025 following his link to the confidential fund scandal. His testimony could be crucial in determining the actual usage of the P500 million in confidential funds. Information Source: Rappler Philippines