Senator Lito Lapid asks witness why 'Lapid' appeared in OVP confidential fund receipts

Senator Lito Lapid on Monday grilled former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta after his surname surfaced on an acknowledgment receipt linked to the disbursement of the OVP’s confidential funds.

Lapid raised the issue during the 17th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. "Lapid" was among several surnames matching sitting senator-judges that appeared in 2023 OVP records documenting confidential fund expenditures.

Acosta had previously testified that Col. Raymund Lachica, then an OVP security officer, was responsible for disbursing the P500 million in confidential funds.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa defense [team] at kay Lachica kung nabigyan ‘yung kamag-anak ko. Eh kung hindi, kung alias yun, paano ‘yung pangalan at apelyido namin na inalias niyo lang pala [at] hindi totoong tao?” Lapid asked during the trial.

(“I would be thankful to the defense team and to Lachica if my relative actually received something. But if not—if that was just an alias—what about our names and surnames that you used as aliases for people who aren’t even real?”)

Acosta failed to provide a clear explanation, stating that the acknowledgment receipts bearing the Lapid surname originated from Lachica and that she had merely relied on his submissions.

When Lapid pressed her on why she placed complete trust in Lachica and asked whether the security officer had personally managed the funds, Acosta replied, “Hindi ko alam, Your Honor.” (“I don’t know, Your Honor.”)

-Paraluman News