The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Monday, August 24, after two consecutive sessions were canceled due to inclement weather. Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta is expected to return to the witness stand for the continuation of her direct examination.
Acosta, who was declared a hostile witness for Article I, which alleges the systematic misappropriation and irregular liquidation of ₱500 million in OVP confidential funds and ₱112.5 million allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary.
In her previous testimony, Acosta said she released ₱500 million in confidential funds in 2022 and 2023 to former Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group chief Colonel Raymund Lachica, allegedly upon Duterte’s orders.
After Acosta’s direct examination, the defense is expected to conduct cross-examination, followed by possible redirect and recross examinations. Senator-judges will also be given two minutes per round to raise questions or make interjections.
The court may also determine whether former DepEd special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda, who was previously subpoenaed, will be called to testify.
The Senate impeachment court is also expected to take up administrative matters, including a proposal to return the trial to afternoon sessions to expedite proceedings.
Day 17 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial begins
The 17th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial begins Monday, August 24, with 17 senators serving as senator-judges in attendance.
Senator-judge Joel Villanueva leads the opening prayer as the Senate impeachment court resumes proceedings. The trial continues as the court takes up the next phase of the impeachment case.
Prosecution begins direct examination of Gina Acosta
The prosecution begins its direct examination of former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta
Acosta is a key witness in Article I of the impeachment complaint involving alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds.
Ligutan questions Acosta on Sara Duterte tree-planting activity
House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan questions former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta about Vice President Sara Duterte’s tree-planting activity, which he says was conducted “with God’s blessing” despite the OVP having no confidential funds in 2026.
The exchange comes after Acosta confirmed that the OVP has no confidential funds this year.
Acosta says she cannot recall Davao City confidential funds
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta says she can no longer recall details of the annual confidential funds allocated to Davao City from 2016 to 2022, when Vice President Sara Duterte served as mayor.
“Hindi ko na maalala, Your Honor. Matagal na kasi ’yun. May edad na din po kasi ako, Your Honor,” Acosta tells the Senate impeachment court.
Acosta says she no longer has receipt for ₱125-million fund
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta says Security Officer Col. Dante Lachica submitted a fund utilization report as part of the liquidation of the ₱125 million confidential funds in 2022.
Acosta says Lachica returned the receipt acknowledging receipt of the funds after the liquidation, which is why she no longer has the document in her possession.
Acosta says she relied on documents from security officer
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta says she relied on documents submitted by the security officer in processing the liquidation of confidential funds, noting that the officer was the one who conducted the activities on the ground.
Among the documents was a fund utilization report listing ₱16 million in expenses for the rental of safe houses and other related costs from December 21 to 31, 2022.
Acosta says she did not witness confidential fund releases
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta says she did not personally witness Security Officer Col. Dante Lachica hand over confidential funds to several recipients, including those identified as “Antonio Pagong,” “Timon Andrew Pusa,” “Don Piang,” “May Pamana,” “Shane Ngitngit,” and “Xuniso Belat.”
Acosta says she was not on the ground during the transactions and relied on documents submitted by Lachica as the basis for the liquidation of the confidential funds.
Acosta says only acknowledgment receipts submitted for ₱75 million
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta says only acknowledgment receipts were submitted for the ₱75 million allocated for supplies, medical assistance, and food aid.
Acosta says she did not receive official receipts from Security Officer Col. Dante Lachica because the transactions were considered “confidential.”
Acosta confirms Sara Duterte signed confidential fund liquidation reports
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta confirms that Vice President Sara Duterte signed the liquidation reports for confidential funds covering the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023.
Acosta says the reports contained a certification on the “correctness of the above data,” which she based on documents submitted by Security Officer Col. Dante Lachica.
Impeachment court strikes “scam” question from record.
The Senate impeachment court strikes from the record a question by House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan asking whether the OVP’s spending of confidential funds could be considered a “scam” or blatant deception of public funds.
Defense counsel Atty. Lindo Bacquel objects to the question as impertinent, while Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero agrees and orders the word “scam” stricken from the record, directing Ligutan to rephrase the question.
Defense begins cross-examination of Gina Acosta
The defense begins its cross-examination of former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta.
Acosta earlier testified for the prosecution on alleged irregularities involving the OVP’s confidential funds.
Court allows defense cross-examination despite prosecution objection
House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan objects to the defense’s line of questioning on the scope of cross-examination of an adverse witness.
Defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel says his questions seek to provide the court with the “entire picture” regarding the 2022 physical and financial plan.
Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero overrules the objection for the meantime, while reminding the defense that the matter had already been established by previous witnesses.
Ligutan questions Acosta over “selective memory”
House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan questions former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta over details she said she could no longer remember regarding confidential funds during Vice President Sara Duterte’s tenure as Davao City mayor.
During redirect examination, Ligutan raises the issue of “selective memory” after Acosta attributed some gaps in her recollection to her age.
Bacquel withdraws question after prosecution objection
Defense counsel Atty. Lindon Bacquel asks former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta whether her repeated answers during direct examination were due to the prosecution allegedly asking repetitive questions.
House private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan objects, calling the question “vague,” prompting Bacquel to withdraw it.
Pangilinan questions Acosta’s responsibility over ₱125 million
Senator-judge Kiko Pangilinan questions former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta about whether she still had responsibility over the ₱125 million confidential funds after disbursing the money to security officer Col. Dante Lachica.
Acosta says she remained an accountable officer and relied on documents submitted by Lachica regarding the use of the funds.
Tulfo questions use of aliases in confidential fund transactions
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo questions former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta on whether the use of aliases such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Pagong,” and “Pusa” in confidential fund transactions is considered normal.
Tulfo also asks whether expenses for activities such as tree planting and the purchase of equipment were charged to confidential funds.
Tulfo asks Acosta to assess her own intelligence
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo asks former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta whether she considers herself “smart, average, or stupid,” to which Acosta answers that she is “average.”
Tulfo then questions why she did not find it unusual to see aliases such as “Belat,” “Pagong,” and “Pusa” in confidential fund documents, while Acosta says she relied on documents submitted by the security officer, who told her the information was sensitive and confidential.
Gatchalian questions Acosta on safeguards against fund misuse
Senate President Win Gatchalian questions former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta on how she ensured that the confidential funds given to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica were not pocketed or misused.
Acosta says she trusted Lachica as the OVP’s designated Security Officer who implemented confidential activities on the ground and submitted a fund utilization report used as the basis for liquidating the funds.
Villanueva questions Acosta’s role as special disbursing officer
Senator-judge Joel Villanueva asks former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta what decisions she personally made in handling confidential funds.
Acosta says her duties were limited to processing documents, disbursing funds, and handling liquidation, while decisions on the purpose, amount, and recipients of the funds were made by others.
Hontiveros questions Acosta’s accountability over confidential funds
Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros asks former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta whether she would be held responsible if the use of confidential funds could not be properly accounted for.
Acosta says she is the accountable officer as SDO, but maintains that Col. Dante Lachica was the designated security officer who implemented the confidential activities on the ground.
Acosta says she does not know why she was chosen as SDO
Former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta says she does not know why she was chosen by the OVP and Davao City to serve as special disbursing officer for confidential funds.
Acosta gives the response to Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero, who asks why she was appointed despite her admission that she had no experience in confidential operations.
Lacson questions Acosta’s fiduciary responsibility over ₱125 million
Senator-judge Ping Lacson questions former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta about her responsibility in handling and releasing confidential funds. Lacson asks whether the ₱125 million passed through Acosta’s vault before being released to Col. Dante Lachica, to which Acosta says there were instances when the funds were directly released to Lachica.
Lacson stresses that as an SDO with fiduciary responsibility, Acosta’s role should not have been limited to merely processing and signing fund documents.
Sotto questions Acosta on activities in 132 locations
Senator-judge Tito Sotto questions former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta about who conducted the activities in 132 locations listed in the utilization report, noting that she said her authority as SDO could not be delegated.
Acosta says OVP Security Officer Col. Dante Lachica carried out the confidential operations on the ground. Sotto says the court needs clarity on how the activities were conducted across the 132 locations if Acosta’s authority could not be delegated.
Fajarda excused from testimony after reported stroke
Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero announces that the Senate impeachment court receives a letter and medical certificate requesting that former Department of Education special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda be excused from testifying after reportedly suffering a stroke.
Fajarda, who is expected to take the witness stand after Gina Acosta, was confined in the ICU for observation and has since been transferred to a regular room.
The court directs Senate Medical and Dental Bureau head Dr. Sison to examine Fajarda and validate his medical condition before determining whether he can testify this week and when he may be able to take the witness stand.
Trial adjourns
The 17th day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte formally adjourns Monday, August 24, following the day’s proceedings.
