Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta testified that Vice President Sara Duterte personally ordered her to release ₱125 million in confidential funds to then-OVP security officer Col. Raymond “Dante” Lachica after the funds were encashed in December 2022.
During Day 16 of the impeachment trial on Monday, private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan questioned Acosta about why she contacted Lachica after encashing the ₱125-million check.
“Why did you have to call Col. Lachica to inform him na ready na ang P125 million?” Ligutan asked.
“Kasi po may instruction sa taas, sa aking head of agency, na kapag na-encash ang tseke, i-release ko po kay Sir Lachica… na dinesignate na security officer ng OVP,” Acosta replied.
Ligutan then asked Acosta to identify the head of agency who allegedly instructed her, as special disbursing officer, to release the ₱125 million in cash to Lachica.
“Sino ba ang head of agency na nag-utos sa’yo as special disbursing officer na ibigay ‘yung P125 million in cold cash sa isang security officer na si Col. Raymond ‘Dante’ Lachica?” Ligutan asked.
“Ang nag-utos po sa aking i-release ang P125 milyon kay Lachica ay si Ma’am Sara Duterte,” Acosta said.
Earlier in the questioning, Acosta confirmed that she called Lachica after the check was encashed and informed him that the funds were ready.
Ligutan also pressed Acosta on why she needed to notify Lachica that the ₱125 million was already available.
“Kasi po, may instruction po sa taas, Your Honor, ng aking head of agency na kung ma-encash ko po ang cheque, i-release ko po kay Sir Lachica, kinsa ihangi-designate Special Officer po. A Security Officer po sa Office of the Vice President. Nasa, order your honor,” Acosta said.
The testimony was presented as the prosecution continued examining Acosta, the first hostile witness in the impeachment trial, over the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the OVP.
