Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio testifies before the Senate Impeachment Court on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after being declared a hostile witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
The Senate Impeachment Court on Tuesday declared Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio a hostile witness, allowing House prosecutors to ask leading questions during his direct examination.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the court considered Ortonio’s continued employment under Vice President Sara Duterte in finding that he had an adverse interest in the proceedings.
Escudero noted that Ortonio serves at the pleasure of the Vice President and holds a coterminous position, meaning his tenure is tied to Duterte’s stay in office. Ortonio confirmed this before the court.
“To abbreviate the proceedings, the court declares Mr. Ortonio, as a hostile witness based on his adverse interest,” Escudero said.
Private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia also argued that Ortonio and Duterte move within the same social circle, raising the possibility that he could face personal consequences if he gave testimony damaging to the Vice President.
Divinagracia said Ortonio could “practically become a social pariah” if he testified unfavorably against Duterte. The defense objected to the line of questioning on relevance, but Escudero overruled the objection while directing the prosecution to proceed to its point.
Ortonio became the second prosecution witness to be treated as hostile as the court continued hearing evidence on allegations involving Duterte’s use of confidential funds. Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta was earlier given the same designation.
As a hostile witness, Ortonio may be questioned by the prosecution through leading questions, giving the panel wider latitude to test his testimony and credibility while presenting its case against Duterte.
