Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta testified Monday that she released a total of ₱500 million in confidential funds in 2022 and 2023 to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, acting on the direct orders of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Acosta confirmed during direct examination by private prosecutor Amando Ligutan that Duterte instructed her to hand over ₱125 million in 2022, citing Lachica’s supposed expertise in implementing confidential activities.
Ligutan asked: “Yung sagot ninyo was because po may utos po ni Ma’am Inday Sara na sa kanya po i-release kasi siya po ang nakakaalam kung paano po i-implement ang mga programs and activities in line po sa confidential activities. You confirm that?”
Acosta replied: “Yes, Your Honor. Siya (Lachica) lang ‘yung may alam on how to implement ‘yung confidential activities.”
She further admitted that in 2023, she also released ₱375 million in confidential funds to Lachica for the same reasons.
However, Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero pressed Acosta on whether Joint Circular 2015-01 authorizes a security officer to disburse confidential funds.
Acosta conceded: “Hindi po [trabaho iyon ng security officer], Your Honor. Trabaho po ‘yan ng…disbursing officer, Your Honor. Pero, pag na-release ko na po ang pera sa kanya, Your Honor, pinareceive ko sa kanya, Your Honor, magbigay po siya sa akin ng utilization report.”
Ligutan then questioned why Acosta released the ₱500 million despite the rules. Acosta justified her decision by citing Lachica’s designation: “Hindi ko ibibigay kung hindi siya (Lachica) ang designated security officer [ng OVP].”
When Ligutan suggested that Acosta deferred to Lachica because she “could not dare question the Vice President’s decision,” defense counsel Lindon Miguel Bacquel objected, and Escudero sustained, noting Acosta had already provided two reasons for her actions.
The testimony underscores the controversy surrounding the OVP’s confidential funds, raising questions about compliance with existing guidelines and the role of Lachica in handling large-scale disbursements. # ( ZIA LUNA)
