Selective memory? Gina Acosta questioned over knowledge of Davao confi funds

The House prosecution panel on Monday questioned former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta over her inability to recall details about the confidential funds of Davao City when Sara Duterte was mayor.

During his redirect examination, private prosecutor Amando Ligutan asked Acosta if she knew what “selective memory” meant, pointing out that when he questioned her about the Davao City funds, she repeatedly said she could not remember.

However, when the defense asked her similar questions during her cross examination, Acosta was able to answer directly, Ligutan said.

“Madam witness, nung nakaraang araw while ‘yung prosecution that is presenting you as a hostile witness, sinabi niyo in several instances na hindi mo masagot ‘yung mga katanungan nangyari 2022 and prior to that kasi sabi mo, hindi mo na maalala,” Ligutan said.

(Madam witness, the other day, while the prosecution was presenting you as a hostile witness, you said in several instances that you could not answer questions about events that occurred in 2022 and prior to that because you said you could no longer remember.)

“Pero ma’am, kanina dire-diretso ‘yung defense tinatanong ka, nakatanggap ba ng audit observation memorandum, natanggap ba ng notice of disallowance during your stint sa Davao City, diretsahang sabi mo, ‘Wala.’ … Now, bigla mong naalala 2018 to 2022,” he added.

(But ma’am, earlier, the defense was asking you directly whether an audit observation memorandum or notice of disallowance was received during your stint in Davao City, and you answered directly, ‘None.’ … Now, you suddenly remember events from 2018 to 2022.)

In response, Acosta said in a mix of Bisaya and Tagalog that she could recall the events but not specific amounts.

During cross-examination, defense counsel Lindon Bacquel asked Acosta if an audit observation memorandum or notice of disallowance had been issued in relation to Davao City’s confidential funds during her tenure as an SDO from 2018 to 2022, when Duterte was mayor.

Acosta said none had been issued.

Acosta served as an SDO of the Davao City government while Duterte was mayor from 2019 to 2022.

She also served as a staff member of the Davao City Administrator’s Office and Davao City Budget Office from 2016 to 2022, during Duterte’s tenure as mayor.

Can understand Tagalog?

Ligutan further questioned Acosta’s ability to understand Filipino, saying she appeared able to understand and respond when Bacquel was asking the questions.

“When it was the defense asking you rapid, rapid… mabilis, Tagalog, all of a sudden, nasasagot mo. Walang translation, nasasagot mo nang diretso,” Ligutan said, prompting repeated objections from Bacquel.

(When the defense was asking you questions rapidly in Tagalog, all of a sudden, you could answer. No translation was needed; you answered directly.)

“Your Honor, I would not belabor the point. The records are crystal clear,” he added.

Bacquel tried to have Ligutan’s remarks stricken from the record, but Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero did not grant the request.

Last Monday, Aug. 17, Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo asked the Senate impeachment court to compel Acosta, who has been answering in Bisaya during the impeachment trial, to speak in Filipino instead.

In his manifestation, Tulfo said he had a copy of the transcript of the House committee hearings in 2024, where Acosta was able to speak in Filipino when questioned by House members.— MCG, GMA News