VP Sara ordered her to release confi fund to colonel, says OVP exec

Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said VP Sara Duterte gave the go-signal for her to turn over P125 million in confidential funds in 2022 to a military officer. 

Acosta made the testimony during the ongoing House panel inquiry on the budget use of the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte's tenure as Education Secretary.

Acosta said she turned over the P125 million confidential funds in 2022 to a certain Colonel Lachica.

“May approval po kay Ma'am Inday Sara (There's an approval from Ma'am Inday Sara),” Acosta replied when asked by Batangas lawmaker Gerville Luistro on what prompted her to give the huge amount to a certain “Colonel Lachica” of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.

Luistro asked Acosta anew if she would have given the P125 million to Lachica without the approval of Vice President Duterte.

Acosta replied, “Hindi po (I won't).”

During the same probe, Acosta said she finds Lachica trustworthy because the said security officer has the full trust and confidence of the Vice President.

“I trust Sir Lachica po kasi tina-trust po siya ng aking head of [OVP] office na si Maam Inday Sara [Duterte],” Acosta said, referring to the Vice President.

Asked if she only trusted Lachica because of the instruction of the Vice President, Acosta said “Yes, Ma'am.”

Luistro then pointed out that Presidential Decree 1445 provides that the disbursing officer cannot delegate his or her function which was contrary to what Acosta did with the P125 million. She added such disbursement of public funds was unauthorized and that Acosta could face malversation of public funds due to negligence.

Acosta said she was aware of this, but said her deference to her boss, the Vice President, prevailed.

“Nanaig po ang aking belief na may trust po ako kay Lachica dahil authorized po ni Ma'am Sara Duterte (My belief that I could trust Lachica dominated because it [transaction] was authorized by Ma'am Sara Duterte),” Acosta said.

"Wala po akong alam kung paano i-implement ang confidential activities. Si Sir Lachica lang po ang may alam (I don't have an idea how to implement the confidential activities. It was Sir Lachica who had knowledge)," Acosta added.

After her testimony, Acosta was seen being wheeled out of the Batasang Pambansa at around 6:13 pm.

Duterte, who was present during the House panel inquiry, accompanied Acosta until the latter was transferred to an ambulance that took her to Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC)  as of 6:38 pm, according to a statement from the OVP Legal Office.

“Ms. Gina [Acosta] is currently unresponsive for now so House Medical Director Luis Bautista declared it an emergency,” said lawyer Leandro Resurreccion IV.—LDF, GMA Integrated News