Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Angel Reese rebounded her way into the record books not once, but twice in one night.

Reese set a WNBA record with 26 rebounds in the Atlanta Dream’s 78-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday, pushing her past the season record in the same game.

‘Last time I was here, I didn’t miss any shots. Tonight I couldn’t hit (anything) so I knew I was going be able to get them on the rebounding side,’ Reese told the postgame show. ‘I just want to be there for my team. Offensively, defensively, whatever it takes to win.’

Reese surpassed Chamique Holdsclaw’s record of 24 rebounds, set on May 23, 2003 for Washington. She now has 458 rebounds on the season, seven more than A’ja Wilson’s mark set in 2024.

Reese secured her WNBA-leading 27th double-double of the season on a basket with 13.9 seconds left in the game that gave her 11 points.

‘That’s a talent,’ Dream guard Allisha Gray said. ‘I’m just in awe watching her rebound.’

A three-time WNBA All-Star, Reese set a WNBA rookie record with 13.1 rebounds per game and the all-time league record with 15 straight double-doubles with Chicago in 2024.

Reese led the league in rebounding her first two seasons and is leading again this season at 12.0 per game.

Aircraft giant Boeing is once again taking some of the Philippines’ most prized eagles under its wing, thanks to another $80,000 in funding.

That amount represents the American plane-maker’s latest commitment to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), an organization it has been partnering with since 2023, and would help bankroll the construction of new aviaries as well as conservation programs.

PEF executive director Dennis Salvador told Biz Buzz that part of the funding would go toward additional enclosures at the foundation’s natural breeding sanctuary at the foot of Mount Apo in Davao City.

A separate flight aviary will be built to train birds hatched at the sanctuary, Salvador said.

Another portion of the $80,000 will support initiatives under PEF’s conservation academy.

Salvador said that Boeing’s relationship with the foundation dates back to 2023, after company representatives encountered Philippine eagles in Singapore and expressed interest in supporting their conservation.

Boeing had adopted two Philippine eagles-Makisig and Hiraya-before expanding to support conservation work in the Philippines. Salvador said Boeing has provided funding every year since then and is now among the foundation’s biggest corporate supporters.

The latest commitment came after Boeing Southeast Asia president Travis Sullivan met with PEF officials on Aug. 19 to discuss follow-through programs.

As a company best known for helping people take to the skies, Boeing’s latest Philippine investment ensures the country’s national bird can keep doing the same. -Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta

Campaign donors, beware?

The general elections in the Philippines may still be about two years away, but potential campaign donors from the private sector are already taking serious note of the case involving Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

To recall, the Office of the Ombudsman last June charged Marcoleta with plunder for over P75 million in undeclared contributions to his ultimately successful campaign for a Senate seat in 2025.

Marcoleta was also charged with three counts of violating Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officers from accepting gifts while in office.

Charged with him are former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor and private campaign donors Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray.

And this is where the concerns are coming from, as a number of potential donors-among them the country’s richest individuals and top executives-now fear that donating to an election campaign could get them embroiled in unexpected legal trouble.

Biz Buzz sources said the liability of private citizens cannot rest solely on their having dealt with a public official -even if they get accused of wrongdoing-especially if deeds of donation are signed and donor’s taxes are paid.

The current case, however, begs the question: Was this merely a campaign donation, or was it given as part of a corrupt scheme?

The answer cannot be presumed. It must ultimately be proven.

Even then, the potential trouble down the road may just be too much of a risk for well-meaning private donors.

Given that, will the Marcoleta case change the complexion of the 2028 campaign in that candidates may find it more difficult to get donations? Abangan! -Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Lim’s stressful SEC debut

Francis Lim has survived his first year as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). His verdict?

‘Both exciting and stressful,’ Lim told reporters when asked to sum up his first year at the corporate regulator.

The stress, he said, came partly from wanting to accelerate the transformation of the Philippine capital market. Not everyone welcomed the changes, either.

‘There’s a lot of positive comments about what we’ve done. Of course, as usual in a democracy, there’s always some resistance,’ Lim said.

Still, the SEC chair appears pleased with what his team has accomplished, crediting his fellow commissioners for helping push through the regulator’s reform agenda.

And it has been a busy first year.

The SEC imposed stricter processing timelines and a ‘deemed approved’ policy for applications not acted upon beyond prescribed periods.

It also slashed fees for corporate document requests, resulting in nearly P263 million in discounts as of July.

On the capital-market side, Lim’s first year saw the rollout of a five-year shelf registration framework, tiered minimum public ownership requirements, expanded rules for real estate investment trusts, Sukuk regulations and Southeast Asia’s first Green Equity Guidelines.

There is little sign the workload-or the stress-is easing.

Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said Tuesday she was ‘more inclined’ not to call Col. Raymund Lachica, the former head of Vice President Sara Duterte’s security detail, as a witness in her impeachment trial, although the prosecution has yet to make a decision.

Luistro made the pronouncement as the 18th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial ended, with the prosecution yet to decide whether to call Lachica to the witness stand.

To recall, Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta mentioned Lachica several times during Monday’s proceedings. She admitted handing the OVP’s confidential funds to him, even though she knew he was not a bonded officer.

She also confirmed that Lachica was the one who released the funds for the implementation of confidential activities.

Despite the apparent reasons for calling Lachica as a witness, Luistro said she was ‘more inclined not to present’ him or Col. Dennis Nolasco, another former official of Duterte’s security detail who allegedly handled OVP confidential funds.

‘I will be very honest with you. I am more inclined not to present Lachica and Nolasco,’ Luistro said during a post-trial press conference.

‘My position is simple. Is there misuse? When Gina Acosta said that she turned over the entire amount to the security officer, who is a non-accountable officer, is there misappropriation? Is there irregular liquidation? For me, Gina Acosta’s testimony is clear,’ she added.

Luistro also said the prosecution is just waiting for the testimony of former Department of Education (DepEd) special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda to establish the alleged misuse of confidential funds through the department when Duterte was still education secretary.

‘But this is just my personal position. As a matter of practice, we always decide as a team,’ she clarified.

According to private prosecutor and prosecution team spokesperson Atty. Benjamin ‘Jay’ Tolosa Jr., the panel is still deliberating on the matter.

Tolosa, however, reiterated in the same press conference that there are risks associated with presenting another hostile witness.

‘[Calling a witness] presumes that if we put them on the stand, they will give us the truth. But we have no basis to make that assumption,’ Tolosa said regarding calling Lachica to testify as a hostile witness.

‘Every time you call a hostile witness, this is a decision that you cannot make lightly,’ he added.

Tolosa even used Acosta as a prime example of this risk, stating that she had already made statements under oath during hearings before the House of Representatives.

‘So, if she lies, we can call her out. Unlike here [with Lachica], it’s not that simple, especially since he’s under investigation,’ he explained.

‘We’re not saying that we are sure he’s going to lie. We’re not saying that. But what we’re saying is there is a possible motivation to lie,’ he added.

Tolosa on defense presenting Lachica: Go ahead

Conversely, the prosecution welcomed the idea of the defense inviting Lachica as one of its witnesses, saying that in this case, they would be free to cross-examine him.

‘Are we afraid of Lachica taking the witness stand? Definitely not. If the defense will call him, go ahead, right? And we’re ready to cross-examine him,’ Tolosa said.

The opportunity to cross-examine, Tolosa said, is one reason the prosecution needs to assess whether it would be strategic to present Lachica as a witness, especially if it has already established what it needs regarding Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Luistro shared the same sentiment, saying it would not be risky for the prosecution if the defense decides to present Lachica as its witness.

‘Definitely not. As a matter of fact, it will provide us the opportunity to cross-examine Colonel Lachica and Colonel Nolasco without presenting them as part of the prosecution’s witnesses,’ she said.

Sen. Mark A. Villar is urging his colleagues to ensure the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1870, or the proposed Travel Tax Abolition Act, which seeks to remove the decades-old travel tax imposed on Filipinos going abroad.

‘Hindi dapat maging dagdag na pasanin ang pag-alis ng bansa, lalo na para sa mga Pilipinong bumibiyahe upang magtrabaho, mag-aral, magpagamot, magnegosyo, o makasama ang kanilang pamilya. Panahon nang alisin ang travel tax at ibalik sa ating mga kababayan ang perang maaari nilang magamit sa mas mahalagang pangangailangan,’ Villar said.

(‘Leaving the country should not be an extra burden, especially for Filipinos traveling to work, study, get medical treatment, do business, or be with their families. It’s time to remove the travel tax and return to our countrymen the money that they can use for more important needs.’)

The travel tax was introduced under Presidential Decree No. 1183 in 1977, when overseas travel was widely viewed as a privilege.

Villar called it an ‘archaic’ policy that no longer reflected present realities. As it is, he pointed out, Filipino travelers pay a full travel tax of ?1,620 for economy-class passage and ?2,700 for first-class passage. A family of four traveling in economy class must therefore spend an additional ?6,480 before leaving the country.

‘Malaking bagay na sa isang pamilya ang ?6,480. Maaari itong ilaan sa pagkain, pamasahe, tirahan, gamot, o iba pang gastusin sa biyahe. Sa gitna ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, nararapat lamang na alisin natin ang mga singil na hindi na angkop sa kasalukuyang panahon,’ Villar added.

(‘The P6,480 is a big deal for a family. It can be set aside for food, fare, rent, medicine, or other expenses during a trip. Amid a continuing rise in the prices of goods, it’s just right for us to remove a charge that is not suited to the present.’)

If Senate Bill No. 1870 becomes law, government agencies and private entities will be prohibited from collecting travel tax, and passengers who have already paid the tax for flights scheduled on or after the law’s effectivity will be entitled to an immediate refund.

The proposal also supports the objectives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Tourism Agreement, which seeks to facilitate travel and promote stronger connectivity among Asean member states.

Villar allayed concerns about possible disruptions to government programs, noting that the bill has safeguards for the continued funding through the annual General Appropriations Act for projects previously supported by travel tax collections.

At present, the travel tax collection to the following agencies:

50 percent to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for tourism development

40 percent to the Commission on Higher Education for tourism-related educational programs

10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts

‘Patuloy nating susuportahan ang turismo, edukasyon, at kultura, ngunit hindi kailangang manggaling ang pondo sa dagdag na singil sa mga Pilipinong bumibiyahe. Ang mga ito ay pambansang programa na dapat pondohan sa ilalim ng pambansang badyet,’ Villar stressed.

(‘We will continue to support tourism, education, and culture, but the funds need not come from an extra charge to Filipino travelers. These are national programs that should be funded through the national budget.’)

‘Simple ang layunin natin: bawasan ang gastos, paluwagin ang biyahe, at bigyan ng mas malaking kalayaan ang bawat Pilipinong maghanap ng oportunidad saan mang panig ng mundo,’ Villar said.

(‘Our goal is simple: Lessen expenses, make travel easier, and give each Filipino more freedom to look for opportunities in whatever part of the world.’)

Vice President Sara Duterte was aware and authorized all the processes and activities in relation to her office’s confidential funds (CFs) worth P500 million in total, Duterte’s assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio testified on Tuesday.

The movements cover the last quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.

The testimony was given after prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asked Ortonio whether or not Duterte is the ‘mastermind’ or ‘architect’ of the Office of the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.

‘You will agree with me that this whole confidential funds matter, ang arkitekto at mastermind nito ay si Sara Duterte?’ Divinagracia said.

(You will agree with me that this whole confidential funds matter, the architect and mastermind of it is Sara Duterte?)

The question was opposed by the defense, and was stricken off the record, but when Divinagracia attempted to rephrase, she argued harder on the use of the word ‘architect’ in characterizing the vice president.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, at this point, asked Ortonio himself:

‘Lahat ng bagay kaugnay ng confidential fund, mula sa pagrequest, sa pagrelease, sa pagencash, sa paggastos, sa pagliquidate, sa pagsagot sa mga AOMs, notice of suspension, at notice of disallowance ay una, nalalaman ng ikalawang pangulo; pangalawa, inawtorisa niya base sa mga pirma niya sa iba’t ibang mga dokyumento; at pangatlo, ay nasa ilalim ng kaniyang superbisyon bilang head of agency?’

(Everything related to the confidential fund, from requesting, to releasing, to encashing, to spending, to liquidating, to responding to AOMs, notices of suspension, and notices of disallowance, is first, known to the second president; second, authorized by him based on his signatures on various documents; and third, is under his supervision as head of agency?)

‘Based on my understanding and based on what I know – yes. The vice president knows about the confidential activities and how it is being implemented,’ Ortonio answered.

Escudero continued: ‘May ginawa ka ba na hindi alam o hindi in-authorize ni Vice President Sara kaugnay sa confidential funds, kasabay na ang pagsagot mo sa AOMS, notice of suspension, at notice of disallowance?’

(Did you do anything that Vice President Sara did not know about or did not authorize in relation to confidential funds, at the same time as you responded to the AOMS, notice of suspension, and notice of disallowance?)

‘None, Your Honor,’ Ortonio replied.

Escudero then asked, ‘Lahat alam nya at inauthorize niya?’

(She knows everything and she authorized it?)

To this, Ortonio responded in the affirmative.

During Divinagracia’s direct examination, Ortonio testified to drafting the OVP’s request for CFs from the Department of Budget and Management, signing the disbursement vouchers, encashing the P125 million funds per quarter, and preparing a reply to the Commission on Audit’s AOM.

All of these actions, Ortonio testified, were under the orders of Duterte herself.

The witness also identified the vice president’s signatures in authorizing and certifying all other documents and requirements needed to process CFs. /

Payments for supplies such as chairs, as well as medicines and food went directly to informants and agents of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), according to a witness.

OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio was called to the witness stand by the prosecution team on Tuesday in connection with Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds (CFs).

Ortonio, who also serves as assistant chief of staff at the OVP, was later declared a hostile witness by the Senate impeachment court.

During her direct examination of the witness, private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia asked for proof that the OVP’s CFs were indeed used for supplies.

‘Ma’am the explanation that was provided to me Ma’am was that binigay po ang pera directly dun sa mga informants and agents and the informants and agents na po ang bumili ng mga medical and food supplies,’ Ortonio said.

(Ma’am, the explanation that was provided to me Ma’am was that the money was given directly to the informants and agents, and the informants and agents themselves purchased the medical and food supplies.)

‘So it’s the acknowledgement receipt which is the proof of the release of the funds to the informants or the agents,’ he added.

Presiding Officer and Sen. Francis Escudero later pursued the prosecutor’s line of questioning.

‘Ang ginamit nyo na pang food and medicine sa confidential fund, binigay nyong deretso sa recipient and presumably, sabi ng recipient, ibibili ko ng pagkain ito, ibibili ko ng gamot to?’ Escudero asked.

(The confidential funds you used for food and medicine were given directly to the recipients, who presumably said, ‘I’ll use this to buy food’ or ‘I’ll use this to buy medicine.)

‘Based on the information, your honor, provided by the security officer. That how it was, ganun yung procedure on how the medical and food aid (was given),’ the witness said.

Ortonio was apparently referring to Duterte’s former security officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, who was designated by the vice president to handle the P500 million in confidential funds released to the OVP.

The payments for the said supplies had no official receipts, according to the witness, still citing information from the security officer.

He gave the same answer when Escudero asked about the chairs also bought by the OVP using the CFs.

‘Regarding the chairs, based on the information also provided by the security officer, no receipt as well because the representation was that yun ang ipamimili nila (the funds would be used) for the tables and chairs,’ Ortonio said,.

‘So what you’re saying is ‘binigay din yung pera sa informant,’ quote and quote that is your wording, para sya ang bibili ng chairs at yun yung bayad sa kanya? Quote and quote,’ the presiding officer went on.

(So what you’re saying is that the money was also given to the informant-quote, unquote, those are your words-so that the informant could purchase the chairs, and that was the payment to the informant? Quote, unquote.)

The witness confirmed the statement.

‘So literally, may informant, imbes na bigyan ng kung ano binayaran ng cash para bilhin yung tables, yung chairs, yung food, yung medicine?’ Escudero asked.

(So literally, there was an informant who, instead of being given whatever was paid for in cash, was given the money to purchase the tables, chairs, food, and medicine?)

‘Yes sir. That’s based on the information that was provided sir by the security officer,’ the witness answered.

When using the regular budget of the OVP, however, Ortonio said their office buys medicines directly from partner pharmacies and releases them directly to beneficiaries.

‘In the form of medicine na?’ Escudero asked, to which the witness answered in the affirmative.

Since they use the regular budget of the OVP, Ortonio said the payment for medicines comes with official receipts

The local government unit (LGU) of Kidapawan City will serve free eat-all-you-can fruits and ice cream at its official booth during the Kalivungan Festival of North Cotabato, which is marking its 112th anniversary.

City Agriculturist Marisa Aton said the fruits galore will take place on Thursday, Aug. 2,7 where at least 500 kilos of various fruits will be served to visitors dropping by Kidapawan’s booth inside the capitol grounds in Barangay Amas.

Durian, lanzones, rambutan, marang, and mangosteen will be among the tropical fruits to be served at the booth.

The 16 towns and the component Kidapawan City will establish a display booth featuring their products during the weeklong Kalivungan festivities.

The Kalivungan Festival will formally commence on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and culminate on Sept. 1.

Aton said that on Sept.1, the city government will serve another free eat-all-you-can fruits and ice cream.

The ice cream flavors are derived from the tropical fruits produced in the city.

‘No limits as long as there’s enough supply of ice cream; anybody can avail even one to sawa (until full),’ Aton said.

Last Aug. 18, the city government successfully conducted a 2.2-kilometer fruits-eat-all-you-can in the streets as part of its Timpupo (Harvest) Festival.

The Kidapawan City police estimated a crowd of 50,000, with visitors coming from the neighboring provinces of Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao del Sur.

The Coconut Palace in Pasay City is set to reopen to the public next year, following the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Leaders Summit in November, according to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Members of the media were able to tour the Coconut Palace on Tuesday, following its six-month renovation worth P200 million spearheaded by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

An iconic landmark showcasing Filipino ingenuity, artistry and sustainable architecture, Coconut Palace is among the venues of the 49th Asean Summit from Nov. 13 to 15 in Manila.

‘As owners of the property, we want to share this part of the Filipino heritage to the general public. So that is what we are going to do moving forward,’ GSIS Executive Vice President Joseph Phillip Andre told reporters.

‘After that (the Asean Summit), we will endeavor to be able to open it to the public. Perhaps by early next year, when we already have a property manager to handle this,’ he said.

The GSIS is considering allowing public access to the newly restored property, with the possibility of collecting entrance fees. The proposal, however, remains subject to the approval of the GSIS Board of Trustees.

Andres said the Coconut Palace was previously open to the public without an entrance fee, but fees may be charged for private events and specific bookings.

Designed by National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa, the Coconut Palace, historically known as Tahanang Pilipino, was commissioned in 1978 by then-First Lady Imelda Marcos as a government guest house for foreign dignitaries.

It was offered to Pope John Paul II during his visit to the country in 1981. The pope, however, refused to stay there because it was too opulent given the level of poverty in the country during that time.

The edifice gained international acclaim for its holistic integration of the coconut tree’s elements in its architecture and décor.

Beyond its namesake material, a myriad of other traditional Filipino resources: capiz shells, solihiya (woven rattan) and narra wood are ubiquitous throughout the space.

The historic landmark features seven bedrooms curated in honor of local regions: Ilocos, Iloilo, Mountain Province, Zamboanga, Pampanga, Marawi and Bicol. Each bedroom is a meticulous showcase of diversity in textile, furniture and art exclusive to each of the regions.

The Coconut Palace also served as official residence and space for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

In 2023, it was declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines, recognizing its deep significance to the country’s heritage.

Did the mayor just wake up? The weather has been bad since last night.’

This was the comment in the vernacular of one of more than 2,000 netizens who reacted to the suspension of classes in nearby Angeles City on Tuesday.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II announced the suspension at around 6:30 a.m., when many students were already in school or on their way to class.

‘Nag-suspend, nasa school na mga bata. Pumasok kahit maulan. Sana naman agahan nila ang pag-suspend (They suspended classes when the children were already in school. They went to school despite the rain. They should announce the suspension earlier),’ a parent commented on Lazatin’s and the city government’s Facebook posts.

Classes usually start at 7 a.m.

‘Due to the sudden deterioration in weather conditions, face-to-face classes in all public and private schools in Angeles City, at all levels, have been suspended,’ the Angeles City government said in a Facebook post.

Lazatin also posted the announcement on his Facebook page.

Several netizens, however, disagreed with Lazatin’s description of the weather as having suddenly deteriorated, saying the bad weather had already started Monday night.

‘Sudden, he said? The weather has been bad since last night,’ a netizen said in the vernacular.

‘Kung pwede po gabi pa lang mag-announce na (If possible, please announce it the night before),’ another commented.

About 90 minutes before the class suspension was announced, Lazatin had reminded parents and guardians in a Facebook post to bring umbrellas or raincoats amid a forecast of cloudy skies with scattered rain showers.

He also said the city government was continually coordinating with schools regarding the possibility of suspending classes if necessary.

‘As of this posting, wala pa po tayong natatanggap na abiso para sa anumang suspension. Batay rin sa kasalukuyang impormasyon at sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga DRRMOs at iba pang kalapit na LGU, wala pa tayong sapat na basehan upang magdeklara ng citywide suspension,’ he said.

(As of this posting, we have not received any advisory regarding a suspension. Based on the current information and coordination with the DRRMOs and other neighboring LGUs, we do not yet have sufficient basis to declare a citywide suspension.)

Lazatin also reminded parents and guardians of their important role in assessing conditions in their respective areas.

‘Kung sa inyong palagay ay mahihirapan o magiging hindi ligtas para sa inyong anak ang pagpasok dahil sa pabugso-bugsong ulan, o kondisyon ng daan, maaari po ninyong ipa-excuse ang inyong anak sa paaralan at makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang school authorities,’ he said.

(If you believe it would be difficult or unsafe for your child to go to school because of heavy rains or road conditions, you may have your child excused from school and coordinate with school authorities.)

Some netizens remained dissatisfied with the timing of the announcement.

‘Mayor Carmelo ‘Jon’ Lazatin II, with all due respect, I hope next time the timing of class suspension announcements can be handled more carefully. The morning session starts at 7 a.m., and by the time the suspension was announced, many students were already at school,’ a netizen commented on the mayor’s post.

‘Parents had already spent money on transportation, and some children had already gotten soaked in the rain on their way there,’ the netizen added.

The netizen observed that Lazatin had initially said there was no advisory yet and advised parents to bring umbrellas and raincoats.

‘If the weather was already this concerning, I believe you should know better than to wait until students were already in school before making the decision,’ the netizen said.

‘By then, the children had already gone through the inconvenience and exposure to the rain, only to be told afterward that classes were suspended,’ the netizen added.

The commenter also pointed out that while classes start at 7 a.m., many students walk to school because their families cannot afford transportation expenses and leave home early to arrive on time.

‘And while you may say that attending is ultimately at the parents’ discretion, students also have quizzes, activities, and lessons they don’t want to miss. Parents shouldn’t have to choose between risking their child’s safety and having them miss something important at school,’ the netizen said.

Another netizen said some schools begin classes as early as 6 a.m., stressing that class suspensions should be made before students leave home.

Col. Raymund Lachica, the former chief of Vice President Sara Duterte’s security detail, on Tuesday said he never refused to testify before the Senate impeachment court and is ‘prepared to tell the truth’ should he be summoned to stand as witness.

Lachica issued the statement after his name was floated several times by former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta during Monday’s trial where Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds is currently being tackled.

During the hearing, Acosta admitted that she handed the office’s confidential funds to Lachica-even if she knew that the latter was not a bonded officer.

She also confirmed that it was Lachica who released the funds for implementation of confidential activities.

‘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, as provided by the OVP.

INQUIRER has asked the OVP what made Lachica issue the statement, but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

The prosecution panel has also yet to actually confirm whether or not it will summon Lachica as a witnesses in Duterte’s impeachment trial