‘Only Superman’ could deliver confidential funds nationwide in 1 day

MANILA – Counsel for the panel of prosecutors, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, on Tuesday said only Superman could have done what was indicated in the documents submitted by the Department of Education to justify the use of its confidential funds.

Kapunan made the remark after reading before a prosecution witness and senator-judges scores of acknowledgement receipts of confidential funds paid off on the same day in different locations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“Kasi ako, Marvel Comics ang binabasa ko; Superman ang favorite ko. Kung hindi man Superman ang isang SDO (Special Disbursing Officer), kaya ba niyang puntahan, sa palagay mo, lahat na ito (Me, I read Marvel Comics, and Superman is my favorite. If the SDO is not Superman, do you think he can go to all these places)?” Kapunan said, referring to the DC Comics superhero when she asked prosecution witness Xylene Del Campo, a state auditor of the Commission on Audit-Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office (COA-ICFAO).

Kapunan’s remarks earned an immediate objection from the defense counsel, saying the question was speculative.

“What is speculative about Superman, he can fly anywhere in one day?” Kapunan retorted.

Presiding Senator-judge Francis Escudero did not sustain the objection and instead directed Kapunan to move on.

“We get your point, counsel,” Escudero said, adding that it would be “physically impossible” for a lone disbursing officer to make confidential fund payments in far-flung locations on the same day.

Escudero then noted an earlier admission that the confidential funds had been turned over to another officer.

“And there was earlier admission that the SDO gave the funds to a Col. Lachica, probably even more. So that remains to be seen and proven in the coming days,” he said, referring to testimonies that the funds were turned over by the DepEd SDO to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, who was then head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.

Escudero appeared to have mixed up the security officers involved. Lachica, then head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, figured in earlier testimony involving the OVP confidential funds.

In the case of the DepEd, Del Campo later testified that Edard Fajarda admitted under oath during a House inquiry that he turned over the confidential fund cash advances to Col. Dennis Nolasco, who was part of the same security group.

In her direct questioning of Del Campo, Kapunan read three batches of acknowledgement receipts (ARs) purportedly to support the liquidation of the PHP112.5-million CIF given to the DepEd in 2023.

The first batch was dated Feb. 21, 2023, the second four days later on Feb. 25, and the third on March 15, 2023.

Among the Feb. 21 ARs that Kapunan read were for PHP50,000, no name but with signature, paid in Danao; PHP100,000 in Malolos; PHP45,000 in Negros Occidental; and another AR with address in Negros Oriental.

The Feb. 25 receipts included PHP200,000 paid in Masbate, PHP100,000 in Laoag City, PHP45,000 in Davao City, one AR indicating an amount paid in Agusan del Norte, PHP50,000 in Olongapo City, PHP150,000 in Masbate, PHP45,000 in Davao City, and PHP50,000 in Pangasinan.

Kapunan read the March 15 ARs in quick succession, also mentioning the amounts, supposed recipients, and the date funds were allegedly distributed.

Asked about the significance of the documents, Del Campo said they showed that different amounts were given to informants in different places in one day.

Del Campo also testified that under a 2015 joint circular issued by COA, the Department of Budget and Management and three other agencies, only the Special Disbursing Officer is authorized to distribute confidential and intelligence funds.

She said in the case of the DepEd, when the Vice President was Education Secretary, the latter did not designate another person as SDO other than Fajarda.

Del Campo also affirmed the assertion of the prosecution’s first auditor-witness, Roderick Wamil, that under the joint circular, the agency head bears primary responsibility for the use of confidential funds. (PNA)

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