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 are 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 fund were released to legitimate recipients, including those who bear unusual names. — RSJ, GMA News