Witness: P125 million secret funds released on VP’s order

MANILA, Philippines — On orders from Vice President Sara Duterte, P125 million in confidential funds was released entirely to her security aide in 2022, her former disbursing officer testified yesterday at the resumption of her impeachment trial.

“The one who ordered me to release P125 million to her security officer Colonel (Dante) Lachica was Ma’am Sara Duterte,” former OVP special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta said on Day 16 of Duterte’s trial.

Lachica used to head the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

“Ma’am Inday gave me an order to release it (money) to Lachica because it’s he who knew how to implement the programs and activities in line with the confidential activities,” Acosta said.

Upon direct examination by private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan, the former SDO admitted that there was indeed no specific provision in the Commission on Audit’s Joint Circular (JC) 2015-01 designating or allowing the disbursement of confidential funds to security officers.

Acosta also acknowledged that the OVP’s P125-million confidential fund allocation in late 2022 contained “no detailed activities” under its broad “Good Governance Program.”

“I gave no details your honor because in the JC, the need to itemize was not indicated,” she said in reply Ligutan’s query whether the fund release fully complied with the circular’s requirements for “specific legal purpose” and “specific detail.”

“It had the approval of ma’am Inday Sara,” Acosta said when asked what gave her the confidence to hand over the entire amount to Lachica despite being herself an accountable officer.

Asked whether she would have done so without Duterte’s approval, Acosta replied in the negative. “I trust Sir Lachica because he’s trusted by the head of office, Inday Sara,” she pointed out.

Hostile witness

The Senate impeachment court, through its presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero, declared Acosta yesterday as the prosecution camp’s “hostile witness” after she informed the court that a Duterte conviction would leave her jobless. Her job is co-terminus with Duterte’s.

“I would not be working in OVP if VP Sara is not the VP anymore,” she said. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Neil Jayson Servallos

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