PASAY CITY—Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo openly voiced his frustration on August 17, over what he called the sudden language struggle of a hostile witness. 

During Day 16 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Tulfo called out former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta for acting as if she could not understand or speak Tagalog. 

“I have here the transcript of the hearing in Congress. Hindi ko po maintindihan bakit parang dito hirap na hirap po siya mag-Tagalog, when in fact, sa Congress po noong November, Tagalog naman po ang sagot niya,” Senator Tulfo stated directly to the court.  

To back up his claim, Tulfo read records directly from a previous House hearing showing that Acosta previously spoke and understood Tagalog without issue. 

He urged the Senate impeachment court to require the former official to speak in Tagalog to keep the trial moving smoothly. 

He warned that the court's time was being wasted by the witness's sudden change in language.  

Tulfo insisted that the witness drop the act, pointing out that Filipinos across the nation naturally understand the language. 

“Dito po sumasagot naman po siya, English, Tagalog… Tama na po itong panloloko sa atin. Please, Mr. President, compel this witness to talk in Tagalog. Kahit po ‘yung mga Bisaya po nakakaintindi ng Tagalog, nakakasalita ng Tagalog. Ano tayo sa ibang bansa? Ano tayo, mga Hapon, mga Chinese? I know, Ms. witness, you can understand Tagalog, you can speak Tagalog dahil andito po ito,” the Senator stressed.  

Acosta took the stand as the prosecution's first hostile witness. She is testifying regarding allegations of misuse of confidential funds involving Vice President Sara Duterte.

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