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Manila, Philippines – Several senator-judges E×ρréššed frustration over the repeated answers of former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta as she faced further questioning on the handling of the OVP’s confidential funds.
Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson pressed Acosta over how the funds were released and accounted for, questioning whether her role as special disbursing officer was merely ministerial or whether she exercised judgment before approving transactions.
Lacson noted that even if the funds were intended for confidential activities, purchases and disbursements still had to be supported by proper documentation, including official receipts and signatures from actual recipients.
After repeatedly asking Acosta to clarify her role, Lacson said he was unable to get a direct answer.
“Tapos na oras ko. Sige, maraming salamat. Wala akong makitang sagot,” Lacson said as his allotted questioning time ended.
Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III also E×ρréššed frustration after Acosta again referred to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica as the OVP’s designated security officer and the person tasked with confidential operations.
Sotto questioned whether Lachica could have personally handled operations covering 132 areas in just 11 days.
When Acosta again explained Lachica’s designation and role in the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, Sotto responded that he no longer wanted to hear what he described as a “template” answer.
Acosta, meanwhile, confirmed during questioning by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian that Vice President Sara Duterte instructed her to release the P125 million in confidential funds to Lachica after the money was encashed.
Asked who instructed her to encash the P125 million, Acosta said it was the Vice President so that the money could be turned over to the security officer.
She clarified that Duterte told her that once the funds were encashed, they should be released to Lachica.
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo also criticized Acosta for relying on Lachica despite questions surrounding the acknowledgment receipts submitted to support the confidential fund expenses.
Tulfo described Acosta’s actions as “stupid in the name of blind loyalty,” suggesting that she followed instructions without sufficiently questioning the transactions.
Acosta responded that she did not understand the characterization.
The exchanges came as the impeachment court continued scrutinizing how the OVP’s confidential funds were released, spent and liquidated, as well as the roles played by Acosta, Lachica and other officials in the transactions.
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Date posted: August 25, 2026 10:54 AM