Abante: No need to present Lachica; Ortonio, Acosta testimonies enough

September 1, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. said there is no need for the House prosecution team to present former Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group chief Col. Dante Lachica as a witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Abante said the testimonies of Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio and Duterte’s former special disbursing officer, Gina Acosta, are sufficient to establish the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Abante made the statement when asked why the prosecution had not presented Lachica, who could potentially testify about whether a real person had received confidential funds under an alias.

“Actually, it’s not a hesitation,” Abante said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.

He said the prosecution team itself appeared satisfied with the testimonies already presented.

“I think that the prosecution team believes that the testimony of Ortonio, [and] the testimony of Acosta is well enough to be able to tell the people na ito talaga nangyari ito,” Abante said.

His statements came amid questions on whether Lachica could provide additional testimony on the identities of people allegedly listed as recipients of confidential funds.

Lachica previously headed the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group and has been cited in discussions concerning the alleged disbursement of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President.

Abante maintained that the prosecution could establish its case through the testimonies of Ortonio and Acosta without having to call Lachica to the witness stand.#