Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified Monday that no official receipts were submitted to support the liquidation of ₱75 million allegedly spent on supplies, medical assistance and food aid during the 17th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Acosta said she only received acknowledgment receipts from Security Officer Col. Raymund Lachica, who allegedly told her that no other documents could be provided because the transactions involved sensitive and confidential operations.
During questioning by House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan, Acosta confirmed that she did not have a single official receipt to prove how the ₱75 million in public funds was spent.
“Acknowledgement receipt lang po,” Acosta said.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero then clarified whether the documents submitted by Lachica to support the liquidation of the expenses included official receipts.
Acosta replied that she only received acknowledgment receipts.
Escudero repeatedly asked whether Lachica had provided any official receipts for the ₱75 million in purchases of supplies, medical and food aid. Acosta eventually confirmed that no official receipts were submitted.
Ligutan questioned why Acosta did not insist on obtaining official receipts, particularly for ordinary purchases such as medicines.
Acosta said she had verified the acknowledgment receipts and noticed that some of them did not contain names or dates, although they carried signatures.
“Ang sagot naman sa akin ni SO officer, ‘Ma'am Gina, kung ano man ang binigay ko sa'yo na mga dokumento, yun na yun’,” the witness said.
She said she asked Lachica about the incomplete documents, but the security officer allegedly told her that the documents he had already submitted were all he could provide because the operations and transactions involved sensitive and confidential information.
The testimony centered on the documentation supporting the use of ₱75 million in public funds allegedly allocated for medical and food assistance and supplies.
Acosta's testimony forms part of the prosecution's presentation of evidence concerning the alleged use and liquidation of confidential funds under Duterte's tenure as vice president.
