2026 ImpeachmentTracker tracks claims made in the impeachment trial and the evidence cited for them. Status labels describe the state of evidence in the proceeding — never guilt, innocence, or a predicted verdict. This is an independent, solo-developer civic project; corrections are welcome. Read our methodology & disclaimers.

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Impeachment Trial - Day 15

On Day 15, COA-ICFAO state auditor Xylene Mae del Campo continued testimony on the audit of the OVP and DepEd confidential funds, and the presiding officer ruled that the court will decide the admissibility of the disputed acknowledgement receipts only once they are formally offered, after the clerk compares both parties' certified true copies. The presiding officer also stated that a ruling, warning, and order was being drafted on counsels' public statements under Rule 18. The prosecution moved to reissue subpoenas for four intended witnesses for the August 17, 18, and 19 trial dates.

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Session record

Claims introduced or updated

  • A new claim card, "Whether confidential activities fit DepEd's mandate," was opened after COA-ICFAO state auditor Xylene Mae del Campo testified that, based on the Department of Education's stated mandate, confidential activities are not part of that mandate.
  • A new claim card, "The ₱16M for 34 safe houses in 11 days," was opened after del Campo, questioned by Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo, confirmed based on House of Representatives records that the OVP spent ₱16 million in confidential funds on the rental of 34 safe houses over 11 days.
  • A new claim card, "Defense: no rule barred OVP or DepEd from receiving the funds," was opened after the defense elicited on cross-examination that Joint Memorandum Circular 2015-01 contains no prohibition on either the Office of the Vice President or the Department of Education receiving the confidential funds.
  • On "COA witness: Joint Circular 2015-01 requires strict compliance for confidential funds," the record now has the witness's testimony that Section 6.2.3.7 lets COA request other documents necessary for evaluation, alongside the defense manifestation and the presiding officer's statement that COA Circular 92-385 was impliedly repealed by the Joint Memorandum Circular.
  • On "COA's ₱375M disallowance," the record now has the witness's testimony that the OVP expenditures were disallowed because the submitted reports did not sufficiently prove success of information gathering, with the presiding officer stating the witness's apprehension standard is not found in the circular and deferring the admissibility of the acknowledgement receipts to formal offer.
  • On "What COA's 'clean opinion' does and doesn't cover," the record now has the witness's testimony that COA relied solely on the agencies' submitted liquidation documents, conducts only compliance audits, and has no official finding of fraud on the OVP or DepEd confidential funds.
  • On "Court bars COA witness from citing Q3 AOM issued after his ICFAO exit," the record now has the witness's account of the AOM authorship timeline and her statement that her predecessor left OVP files in the custodian's office without a separate transmittal or endorsement.
  • On "The ₱612.5M confidential-funds charge," the record now has the witness's agreement, following questioning by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, that the entire ₱612.5 million across the OVP and DepEd could potentially be disallowed and that accountable officers would need to return the funds.

Evidence & exhibits

  • Prosecution counsel manifested that the OVP tabulations prepared by the witness were marked as Exhibits P-1-29 through P-1-32 for the December 2022 quarter and the first through third quarters of 2023.
  • Prosecution counsel manifested that DepEd tabulations prepared by the witness were marked as Exhibits P-1-33, P-1-34, and P-1-35 for the first through third quarters, with the witness identifying P-1-35 as pertaining to DepEd for the third quarter of 2023.
  • The acknowledgement receipts submitted as certified true copies by both parties were presented, with the clerk directed to compare them and their admissibility reserved for formal offer.
  • Defense counsel confronted the witness with the defense's copy of the AOM over the prosecution's continuing objection.
  • The witness confirmed that COA transmitted the OVP and DepEd confidential-fund liquidation submissions and related COA issuances to the House Committee on Justice in response to a subpoena.
  • The prosecution moved for the reissuance of subpoenas ad testificandum for Marivic Pareja, Gina Acosta, Edward Fajarda, and Lemuel Ortonio for the August 17, 18, and 19 trial dates.

Court rulings

  • The presiding officer stated that COA Circular No. 92-385 was impliedly repealed by the Joint Memorandum Circular, though it was not named in the circular's repealing clause.
  • The presiding officer ruled that the court will decide the admissibility of the acknowledgement receipts once they are formally offered, after the clerk compares the certified true copies submitted by both parties.
  • The presiding officer ruled that defense counsel may confront the witness with the defense's copy of the AOM, noting the prosecution's continuing objection.
  • The presiding officer stated that a ruling, warning, and order was being drafted concerning party counsels' public statements alleged to violate Rule 18 of the Impeachment Rules, and that the clerk of court had been directed to monitor those statements.
  • The presiding officer directed prosecution counsel to present a witness with personal knowledge rather than reading into the record statements from transcripts not testified to by the current witness.

Open questions

  • Will the impeachment court admit the acknowledgement receipts once they are formally offered and the clerk completes the comparison of the parties' certified true copies?
  • Will the intended witnesses Marivic Pareja, Gina Acosta, Edward Fajarda, and Lemuel Ortonio appear on the August 17, 18, and 19 trial dates for which subpoenas were requested?
  • What will the presiding officer's forthcoming ruling, warning, and order on Rule 18 public statements provide?
  • Will COA refer the matter to its Fraud Audit Office, which the witness said remains under study?

Claims updated in this session