Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros called attention to what she described as a “very big coincidence” during Day 17 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial after an acknowledgment receipt bearing the name “Clarisse Hontiveros” was shown to be dated on the senator’s birthday.
During the proceedings on Monday, August 24, Hontiveros asked former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta whether the information contained in the acknowledgment receipts presented by the prosecution had been verified and was accurate.
Hontiveros pointed out that one receipt bearing the recipient name “Clarisse Hontiveros” was dated February 24, 2023 — her birthday.
“Napakalaking coincidence po,” Hontiveros said, asking Acosta whether she had any reaction to the unusual detail.
Acosta said she had previously tried to verify similar acknowledgment receipts with Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, who was identified as the person responsible for implementing the confidential activities on the ground.
According to Acosta, Lachica told her that the information was “sensitive” and “confidential in nature.” She added that Lachica was the one who had knowledge of the activities and their implementation.
Hontiveros clarified that she was not claiming that Acosta knew about her birthday. Rather, she noted that she was struck by the fact that the receipt’s date exactly matched her own birthdate.
Acosta responded that she did not know February 24 was Hontiveros’ birthday.
The senator-judge further explained that she was examining the acknowledgment receipts because some of the documents presented during the trial lacked signatures, dates or clearly legible names. In contrast, she said, the date on the receipt bearing the name “Clarisse Hontiveros” was clearly readable.
The exchange added another point of scrutiny to the prosecution’s presentation of acknowledgment receipts allegedly documenting the distribution of confidential funds.
The prosecution has been questioning Acosta about the authenticity, verification and handling of the receipts, while Acosta has repeatedly maintained that Lachica was responsible for the confidential operations and that she did not personally witness several of the alleged cash distributions.
The proceedings are part of Article I of Duterte’s impeachment case, which alleges the misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and the Department of Education.
