Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President. | File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Even if former special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta knew that Col. Raymund Dante Lachica was not a bonded officer, she has admitted that she handed over the responsibility of disbursing confidential funds (CF) under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to him.
When asked by counsel for the prosecution Amando Virgil Ligutan whether Lachica — former head of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) — was a “bonded official,” Acosta admitted he was not, on Monday, during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate.
Cash advances for confidential and intelligence funds “shall be drawn by duly designated and bonded SDOs or HoA (head of agency) for the implementation of a program, activity, and project chargeable to the corresponding CF.” This is stipulated in ttem No. 6.1.2 of the Joint Circular No. 2015-01 of the Commission on Audit (COA) and other government offices using CFs,
“Sinabi natin ‘yong rason ba’t kailangan ng fidelity bond — para ma-protektahan ‘yong perang pinaghirapan ng taumbayan. Tanong, si Col. Lachica ba na pinagbigyan mo ng P125 million, plus P375 million, or a whopping total of P500 million: tanong ng bayan, Gina Acosta, si Colonel Lachica ba, ay nakapag-post ng fidelity bond?” Ligutan asked.
