Witness: OVP had zero target accomplishment for ₱125-M confi fund disbursement in 2022

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) did not have target accomplishments for the disbursement of its ₱125-million confidential fund received on December 21, 2022, an OVP official said Monday.

Gina Acosta, former OVP special disbursement officer and current vice presidential staff officer, made the testimony as a hostile witness for the prosecution during Day 16 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Acosta made the disclosure after private prosecutor Amando Ligutan asked her to confirm what was stated in the OVP’s Physical and Financial Plan for 2022 that there were no physical targets set for the number of identified areas with surveillance conducted and monitored as well as percentage of activities implemented without untoward security-related incidents.

“Wala pong specific mention ng specific number, location, or cost ng mga sinasabi niyong surveillance operations at wala ring specific targets nakasulat sa plano for each of the program activities…Tama po ba?," Ligutan asked.

(There was no specific mention of a specific number, location, or cost of surveillance operations, and no specific targets written in the plan for each of the program activities. Is this correct?)

“Wala po, Your Honor. Kasi plano pa lang po,” Acosta told the impeachment court.

(None, Your Honor. Because it was still a plan.)

Ligutan asked the question because Joint Circular 2015-01 which governs the use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) requires that the purpose of the CIF spending should be based on the agency’s Physical and Financial Plan.

Ligutan then pressed Acosta if there is an actual number or percentage of target accomplishments for the confidential fund spending, which prompted Acosta to reply, “Wala pa kasi kalalabas lang ng SARO (None yet because the SARO was just released).”

She was referring to Special Allotment Release Order that is issued by the Department of Budget and Management prior to the releasing of fund to the receiving agency.

During a House inquiry back in November 2024, Acosta said it was Duterte who gave her the go-signal for her to turn over ₱125 million in confidential funds of the OVP in 2022 to Colonel Raymund Lachica, the commanding officer of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.

This delegation is contrary to Section 6.6.1 of Joint Circular 2015-01 which provides that “Cash advances for confidential or intelligence fund should 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 or intelligence fund of the agency, upon approval of the head of agency” and that “under no circumstance shall it be used for liquidation of the previous cash advance or be transferred from one accountable [officer] to another.”

“May approval po kay Ma'am Inday Sara (There's an approval from Ma'am Inday Sara),” Acosta replied when asked by House justice panel chairperson and Batangas lawmaker Gerville Luistro what prompted her to give the huge amount to Lachica.

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

Tree planting, Libreng Sakay for good governance

Likewise, Acosta also testified that she considered tree planting, Libreng Sakay, financial and medical assistance as part of good governance program as reflected in the accomplishment report that the OVP submitted to state auditors for liquidation purposes.

Acosta admitted that these items stated in the accomplishment report are not stated in the Physical and Financial Plan required for the disbursement of confidential funds, but argued that it was because the PFP requires “generic” description.

“Ang accomplishment po, actual. Generic po ang sa Physical and Financial plan, Your Honor,” Acosta said.

(The accomplishment [report] requires actual [results] as against the generic requirement of the Physical and Financial plan, Your Honor.)

Asked if the OVP’s Physical and Financial plan was approved by Duterte, Acosta answered, “Yes, Your Honor.” —KG, GMA News