Acosta admits releasing P500M of Sara Duterte's confi fund to non-accountable officer

Former special disbursing officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Gina Acosta said on Monday that she released P500 million worth of confidential funds of the OVP to an unbonded officer, or an officer who is not accountable should the funds be lost.

Acosta made the admission during the direct examination by private prosecutor Amando Ligutan on Day 17 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with Ligutan pointing out that Acosta already earlier told the Senate impeachment court that she disbursed P500 million worth of confidential funds of the OVP to Colonel Raymund Lachica, the commanding officer of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.

“Dinusburse ko po sa security officer [Colonel Raymund Lachica], Your Honor,” Acosta said.

(I disbursed to the security officer.)

To which Ligutan responded, “Disbursed. That’s the first time we are hearing that.”

Ligutan then pointed out that this mode of disbursement is not allowed under Section 6 of the 2015-01 Joint Circular governing the use of the confidential and intelligence fund which states that “cash advances for confidential or intelligence fund shall be drawn by duly designated and bonded SDOs or Head of Agency for the implementation of a program, activity, and project chargeable to the corresponding confidential and intelligence fund of the agency, upon approval of the head of agency.”

Likewise, the same provision states “In no case shall cash advance for confidential or intelligence fund be utilized as reimbursement of the expenses prior to the granting of cash advance.”

Ligutan then asked Acosta if she made the decision to disburse the confidential funds to Lachica despite the Joint Circular provision prohibiting it, to which Acosta replied, “Dinisburse ko po kay Colonel Lachica.”

(I disbursed it to Colonel Lachica.)

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero intervened and asked Acosta if Lachica is a bonded officer, meaning an accountable officer, like Acosta who is an SDO then.

“Hindi po siya bonded, your honor, pero ako po ang accountable person, your honor. That is why I was the one who did the liquidation report, your honor,” Acosta said.

(He is not bonded, your honor. But I am the accountable person.)

Acosta also later testified, upon questioning by Escudero and Ligutan, that she has no personal knowledge if the confidential funds were released to legitimate recipients, including those who bear unusual names.

Even so, Acosta said she relied on the acknowledgement receipt submissions by Lachica and certified his liquidation as regular and did not ask further questions.

In a separate press conference, House prosecution team spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa, Jr. said that Acosta cannot downplay her certifications and pass the blame on to Lachica alone, especially that she signed off on Lachica’s words.

“She certifies the use of these documents. Words mean something, especially that these certifications are notarized,” he said.

“When you certify something, that means you testify to its authenticity, you testify that the funds were indeed used to the purpose stated in the document. Kung umaasa lang siya dun sa sinabi ni Colonel Lachica sa kanya at kung ano yung mga pinakitang reports or acknowledgement receipts ni Colonel Lachica sa kanya [If she was only relying on what COlonel Lachica told her and the records or acknowledgement receipts he showed her]…is that wrong or right? The answer to that question that will have the biggest weight here is that of the Senator-judges,” Tolosa added. — RSJ/BM, GMA News