Vice President Sara Duterte attends House probe into the OVP and DepEd’s confidential funds on Nov. 25, 2024. Noy Morcoso/ INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) special disbursing officer (SDO) has admitted leaving confidential fund (CF) disbursements to OVP’s security chief as per the order of Vice President Sara Duterte.
At the hearing of the House of Representatives’ committee on good government and public accountability on Monday, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro quizzed SDO Gina Acosta on how the CF of the OVP was disbursed.
Acosta said she left it all to Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) chief Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, who was assigned to CF management.
“This is a very significant job because it entails a lot of trust and confidence because you are the one in charge of taking custody of the huge amount of money. Right? As a matter of fact, to ensure the fidelity of this money, you are required to issue a fidelity bond, right?” Luistro asked, to which Acosta agreed.
“Then why do you keep on pointing to Col. Lachica?” the lawmaker asked again.
“Because she is the one who knows if there is a need to implement the project under confidential funds,” Acosta replied in Filipino.
“Who will be responsible in case this money is misappropriated? Who will be responsible in case this money is lost? Who will be responsible in case this money went to the wrong person?” Luistro asked again.
“It’s me,” Acosta said.
When Luistro asked Acosta if she understood the possible repercussions of her actions, the OVP official eventually admitted that Duterte directed her to leave all CF transactions and disbursements to Lachica.
“Even when he (Lachica) is aware of the implementation of the surveillance activities, you (Acosta) as a disbursing officer should be the one actually paying all the recipients. Do you understand, Ms. Acosta?” Luistro asked.
“I understand po Ma’am,” Acosta replied.
“Then why did you give all the money to Col. Lachica?” the congresswoman asked.
“Because there is a directive from Ma’am Inday Sara that I release it to Lachica because it’s him who knows how to implement the programs and activities in line with the confidential funds. He knows how to do surveillance and monitoring, so that’s with him, I don’t know about it,” Acosta explained.
This is not the first time that an OVP personnel admitted that a security official within the office is responsible for handling CFs.
Earlier, former Department of Education (DepEd) SDO Edward Fajarda said a security officer designated by Duterte was the one responsible for disbursing the CFs. Fajarda said it was Col. Dennis Nolasco, a security officer at the OVP.
READ: Security officer picked by VP Duterte disbursed confidential funds
Acosta and Fajarda were among the four OVP officials cited for contempt by the House committee last November 11 for repeatedly ignoring the panel’s invitation and summons.
Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio and Fajarda’s wife, former Education Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda, were also previously cited for contempt.
All four showed up at the hearing on Monday.
READ: Four OVP execs cited for contempt show up at House hearing
Expenses made by the OVP and DepEd under Duterte have been scrutinized amid several observations from the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding irregularities.
The COA issued a notice of disallowance on P73.2 million of the office’s P125-million CF for 2022 — an item which several lawmakers said should not be available in the first place as the original budget crafted during the time of former vice president Leni Robredo did not have this item.
READ: Sara Duterte’s confidential fund spending raises new, more doubts
Regarding DepEd, there have been questions about the low number of classrooms constructed while Duterte was education secretary.
Eventually, it was revealed that the DepEd under Duterte supposedly made it seem that their CFs were used for a youth training program when it was the Armed Forces of the Philippines and local government units that shouldered the expenses.
READ: DepEd under Duterte makes it seem it’s funding AFP training – solon
There are also fears that fictitious personalities — such as a certain Mary Grace Piattos — were used to authenticate acknowledgment receipts (ARs) of OVP’s expenditures, particularly those involving CFs.
Last November 5, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo pointed out to COA that several of the ARs were signed by Piattos, whose first name is similar to a coffee shop while having a last name of a famous potato chip brand.
READ: P1-M reward for information on Mary Grace Piattos – House lawmakers