Coincidence? Hontiveros questions AR dated on her birthday

Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta was questioned by Senator Risa Hontiveros over an acknowledgment receipt (AR) bearing the name “Clarisse Hontiveros” and dated February 24, 2023 —coinciding with the senator’s birthday.

Hontiveros raised the detail while questioning Acosta during the resumption of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday.

The senator first asked Acosta whether she could verify the accuracy of the information indicated in the acknowledgment receipts, including the dates of payment, items purchased, places of purchase and amounts.

Acosta said she relied on former OVP security officer Colonel Raymund Lachica, who she said implemented activities related to the confidential operations.

Hontiveros then brought up an AR bearing the name “Clarisse Hontiveros.”

“Ang nakakagulat po, Ms. Gina, ’yung petsa kung kailan daw binayaran ang Clarisse Hontiveros ay February 24, 2023, petsa po ng birthday ko. Napakalaking coincidence po,” Hontiveros said.

(What is surprising, Ms. Gina, is that the date when Clarisse Hontiveros was supposedly paid was February 24, 2023, which is my birthday. That is a very big coincidence.)

Acosta said she did not know that February 24 was Hontiveros’ birthday.

She said she had verified some of the acknowledgment receipts with Lachica because some documents had missing signatures or dates, while some names were difficult to read.

According to Acosta, Lachica told her that the information was sensitive and confidential and that he was the person who knew about the implementation of the confidential activities.

‘Accountable officer’

Hontiveros then turned to Acosta’s role as the OVP’s special disbursing officer (SDO), asking whether she accepted that she was accountable for the confidential funds because she was the payee of the cash advances.

Acosta answered in the affirmative.

Hontiveros pointed out that, based on the documents being discussed, there was no designated “implementing officer” and that Acosta’s identified role was that of an accountable officer.

The senator then asked whether it was fair for Acosta to potentially face liability for decisions made by others.

“May ibang nagdesisyon, may ibang nagpagawa. Kaya lang kayo ’yung nakalagay doon sa blanko na accountable officer, kahit hindi kayo ang nagdesisyon sa pag-encash, hindi kayo ang nagdesisyon sa ibibigay kay Colonel Lachica. Fair ba ’yon?” Hontiveros said.

(Someone else made the decision, someone else gave the instructions. But you are the one identified as the accountable officer, even though you did not decide to cash the funds or decide to give them to Colonel Lachica. Is that fair?)

Acosta maintained that she was the accountable officer.

She also said she believed Duterte knew what she was doing.

“Alam ko po, ma’am, na alam po ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang ginagawa niya. I hope po alam niya ang ginagawa niya,” Acosta said.

(I know, ma’am, that Vice President Sara Duterte knows what she is doing. I hope she knows what she is doing.)

Hontiveros ended the exchange by saying she hoped the proceedings would produce a fair outcome for Acosta.

The exchange came as the prosecution continued questioning Acosta about the handling and liquidation of confidential funds during her time as OVP special disbursing officer. — RSJ, GMA News