Manila: The Senate impeachment court on Monday declared Gina Acosta, Vice President Sara Duterte's former special disbursing officer at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), a hostile witness in the ongoing trial concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds. According to Philippines News Agency, the decision was made by Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero after Acosta was questioned about her current role at the OVP and her employment relationship with Vice President Duterte. Acosta confirmed that Duterte is her current superior and that she holds a position as Vice Presidential Staff Officer VI. When asked by Escudero if she would lose her position if Duterte were impeached or removed, Acosta replied that she would no longer have a job at the OVP. Escudero formally declared Acosta a hostile witness due to her employment circumstances and a stance she took in a counter-affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. Escudero stated, "In addition to the ground raised by Attorney (Amando V irgil) Ligutan that the witness has taken a position by virtue of her counter-affidavit filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, the court hereby declares the witness to be a hostile witness under and in accordance with Rule 132, Section 13." This ruling permits private prosecutor Ligutan to ask leading questions during Acosta's examination, though Escudero emphasized that misleading questions would still be prohibited. Acosta is the first witness to be formally declared hostile in the impeachment trial against Duterte. Ligutan sought the declaration after presenting Acosta's counter-affidavit, arguing that her position was directly adverse to the prosecution's case. The counter-affidavit maintained that Duterte complied with rules governing confidential funds and should not be held liable for their alleged misuse. The defense opposed this motion, contending that Acosta's adverse interest should first be established through examination and that the mere existence of a complaint against her did not make he r hostile. Escudero rejected the defense's argument, allowing Ligutan to proceed with examining Acosta as a hostile witness. In her testimony, Ligutan aims to establish that Duterte instructed Acosta to encash PHP500 million in OVP confidential funds in four tranches from December 2022 to July 2023 and to hand over the cash to an OVP security officer. The prosecution also intends to demonstrate that the PHP500 million was not properly liquidated and that its disbursement violated Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which governs the use of confidential and intelligence funds. These points remain part of the prosecution's offer and are subject to Acosta's testimony and subsequent cross-examination by the defense. The PHP500 million is part of the PHP612.5 million in confidential funds at the center of Article I of the impeachment complaint. The amount includes PHP500 million released to the OVP and PHP112.5 million allocated to the Department of Education during Duterte's tenure as education secretary.