Witness testifies P500 million in confidential funds were released to Colonel Lachica from 2022 to 2023

Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified on Monday that she released a total of ₱500 million in confidential funds to Colonel Raymund Lachica across 2022 and 2023, following direct orders from Vice President Sara Duterte.

During direct examination by private prosecutor Amando Ligutan, Acosta reaffirmed her prior testimony before a House panel, stating that Duterte instructed her to turn over ₱125 million in confidential funds to Lachica due to his expertise in handling confidential operations.

“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?” Ligutan asked.

“Yes, Your Honor. Siya [Lachica] lang ‘yung may alam on how to implement 'yung confidential activities,” Acosta responded.

Acosta further confirmed releasing the OVP’s remaining ₱375-million confidential fund allocation for 2023 to Lachica under the same arrangement.

However, the testimony drew scrutiny from Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero, who questioned whether governing guidelines actually authorize a security officer to disburse or manage confidential funds.

When asked, Acosta conceded that Joint Circular 2015-01 does not assign disbursement duties to a security officer.

“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,” Acosta explained.

Ligutan then pressed Acosta on why she released the money despite knowing the joint circular restricts that responsibility strictly to the special disbursing officer. Acosta cited Lachica's official role within the office as her primary justification.

“Hindi ko ibibigay kung hindi siya [Lachica] ang designated security officer [ng OVP],” she stated.

In response, Ligutan suggested that Acosta likely deferred to Lachica because she was unable to challenge Vice President Duterte's direct command.