MANILA, Philippines — Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President, on Monday confirmed there were no official receipts for the P75 million in medical and food expenses allegedly used for the agency's confidential activities.
During the 17th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero asked Acosta whether medical and food supplies purchased using confidential funds had official receipts.
Acosta said she had reviewed the documents submitted by former OVP security officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and noticed that some acknowledgment receipts were missing basic details such as dates, names, and signatures.
When she sought verification, Lachica allegedly told her that the transactions involved sensitive and confidential operations and that the documents he provided were all that could be submitted.
Prosecution counsel Virgil Ligutan earlier asked Acosta whether she was in possession of official receipts.
Acosta said she only relied on the documents submitted by Lachica as the basis for liquidating the confidential funds.
She also admitted she did not personally witness Lachica hand confidential funds to individuals who signed acknowledgment receipts, including “Antonio Pagong,” “Timon Andrew Pusa,” “Don Piang,” “May Pamana,” “Shane Ngitngit,” and “Xuniso P. Belat.”
Acosta told the prosecution that she was not on the ground when the transactions took place, saying Lachica was responsible for implementing the confidential operations.
