MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) terminated its inquiry into allegations involving Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, the former chief of Vice President Sara Duterte’s security team, to avoid duplicating the investigation being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military respects the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction and Lachica’s right to due process.
“The inquiry regarding these allegations purported against him, we have recommended it for termination and conclusion to avoid duplication of functions,” Padilla said during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Padilla explained the Ombudsman had already taken cognizance of the complaints involving Lachica, prompting the AFP to end its inquiry.
Lachica’s name hogged headlines during the 2024 House investigations after Gina Acosta, a former special disbursing officer (SDO) at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), testified that she turned over bags containing over P125 million in confidential funds to Lachica in December 2022.
Acosta then maintained she had no idea how the money was used. Lawmakers questioned why OVP confidential funds were entrusted to security officers rather than kept with the more accountable SDOs.
After House inquiries revealed that Lachica and another VPSPG official, Col. Dennis Nolasco, allegedly handled OVP confidential funds, the AFP said it would investigate the two officers for possible administrative liability.
At the impeachment trial last week, Acosta testified that Duterte personally instructed her to release the money to Lachica.
According to Padilla, Lachica has been under “attached unassigned” status at Philippine Army headquarters since Oct. 4, 2025.
The arrangement, Padilla said, would allow the AFP to make Lachica available if he is called to participate in investigations or related proceedings.
“That’s the very reason he is placed in attached unassigned status in the headquarters of the Philippine Army, so that in the event that he is called upon, the AFP shows that we are really supporting and, of course, cooperating in the conduct of the investigation accordingly,” she explained.
Lachica has also been mentioned during Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate in connection with the allegations.
Asked whether the AFP would allow Lachica to appear before the Senate Impeachment Court if summoned through a proper subpoena.
