ON the tenth day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the prosecution formally presented its first witness for Article I: retired LandBank Department Manager Violeta Constantino. Constantino was directly involved in overseeing the encashment of checks and the release of funds to Gina F. Acosta, who served as the Vice President’s Special Disbursing Officer.
According to records covered in her testimony, Constantino handled four separate checks amounting to ₱125 million each, withdrawn between 2022 and 2023. The transactions total ₱500 million in public funds, and the prosecution intends to establish through her account how these amounts were processed, released, and subsequently utilized during the period in question.
Her appearance marks a critical step in the prosecution’s effort to lay out the flow of funds and verify the circumstances behind the withdrawals. The defense is expected to cross‑examine Constantino regarding procedures, documentation, and compliance with government financial rules as the trial proceeds with the presentation of evidence.
metrosundaily
