VP DUTERTE Impeachment Trial: Defense Questions COA Witness on “Unusual” Receipt Names

Presiding Officer Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero

VP DUTERTE Impeachment Trial: Defense Questions COA Witness on “Unusual” Receipt Names

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | August 14, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – On the 15th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, a pivotal exchange occurred as the defense questioned a Commission on Audit (COA) witness about “unusual” names on acknowledgment receipts. The defense challenged whether unconventional names automatically indicated fictitious recipients, a line of inquiry allowed by Presiding Officer Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero despite prosecution objections.

The confrontation arose during the cross-examination of Xylene May del Campo, Supervising Auditor for the COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office. Defense counsel Atty. Kristine Ferrer asked, “If the name appears funny, does that automatically mean it is fictitious? Because there were ARs (acknowledgment receipts) shown here.” This referred to visual evidence presented in earlier proceedings.

House prosecution spokesperson Atty. Lorna Kapunan interjected, calling Ferrer’s question misleading. Kapunan asserted that the prosecution’s intent in displaying the receipts was not to emphasize the names but to scrutinize “the manner by which the funds were used.” She emphasized, “The names are incidental; whether they are funny, resemble fruit salad, or are names of congressmen or senators is immaterial.”

However, Senate President Escudero decisively overruled the objection, noting the prosecution’s prior engagement with the “unusual” names during their presentations. Addressing Kapunan, Escudero remarked, “Atty. Kapunan, you must admit you had fun with the names when you used them.” Kapunan, smiling, conceded, “We had so much fun, Your Honor, but—.”

Escudero then ruled, “Exactly, let her cross-examine the witness based on those and utilize it as well.” This decision allowed the defense to investigate the prosecution’s implied narrative surrounding the receipt names, potentially shifting the focus of the cross-examination. The cross-examination proceeded under this directive, marking a critical juncture in the ongoing impeachment proceedings.

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