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MANILA, Philippines — Despite the name of Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, former head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), being mentioned a lot of times during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the prosecution panel is still gauging whether it will present the military officer.
During a press briefing after the trial on Monday, both public prosecutor Manila Rep. Joel Chua and counsel for the prosecution Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said that the prosecution has not decided whether there is a need to present Lachica before the Senate Impeachment Court, even as his name popped up several times.
Lachica was named by former special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta as the person she entrusted with the Office of the Vice President (OVP) confidential funds from the fourth quarter of 2022 up to the third quarter of 2023, based on Duterte’s orders. The military official’s name was mentioned a lot that senator-judges had to ask whether the prosecution intends to present Lachica later on.
“Insofar as pag-uupo na testigo ni Col. Lachica, ’yon ay hindi pa nade-desisyonan ng prosecution at ipa-finalize pa namin kung ano ang magiging laman ng mga testigo na ihahanay namin,” Chua said.
