DEPUTY Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union on Tuesday said Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s camp appeared to be shifting responsibility for the questioned confidential funds to her former security chief, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, but insisted that Duterte remains accountable for their handling.
Ortega, a member of the House prosecution panel, said repeated references to Lachica during testimony gave the impression that responsibility was being directed toward the security officer.
“Ako, basa ko, kasi paulit-ulit nilang mine-mention ‘yung pangalan niya, parang nag-hands off sila, naghuhugas-kamay,” Ortega said at a press briefing after Tuesday’s impeachment proceedings.
“Pero paano nila i-escape ‘yung accountability? Eh yung mga disbursing officer, inutusan naman at saka binigyan ng authority ng Vice President. So, she is very much accountable. Siya ang pinaka-accountable dito,” he added.
Lachica, former commander of the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group, has repeatedly figured in testimony on the P500 million in confidential funds released to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) from December 2022 through 2023.
Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, the prosecution’s first hostile witness, testified that she encashed four P125-million checks and turned the money over to Lachica upon Duterte’s instruction.
Duterte’s longtime aide, OVP Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, also testified Tuesday that information concerning confidential fund activities and liquidation documents came from Lachica.
Ortega said the emerging narrative appeared to place Lachica at the center of the questioned transactions despite Duterte’s authority over the funds.
“Parang ang tema po nila yung mga nakaraang araw is parang may nilalaglag sila. May nilalaglag sila,” Ortega said.
“At parang ang dating sa mga statements nila, parang nilalaglag nila si security officer. Si Col. Lachica,” he added.
Ortega argued that responsibility could not simply be shifted to Lachica because testimony has established Duterte’s authority over the confidential fund operations.
“Na-establish na ni Gina Acosta, galing na sa bunganga niya,” he said. “So the Vice President is accountable for this.”
Ortega said he was already convinced by Acosta’s testimony that Duterte gave the go-ahead involving the funds.
“Tingin ko medyo parang solved na nga ako doon pa lang hanggang kay Gina Acosta pa lang, eh. ‘Yung mismo sinabi niya na ang nag-give ng go signal, eh ‘yung Office of the Vice President at ‘yung Vice President,” he said.
“Doon pa lang mabigat na ‘yung pananagutan, eh,” Ortega added.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines announced Tuesday that it had terminated its inquiry into allegations involving Lachica to avoid duplicating an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The House prosecution has yet to decide whether to call Lachica as a hostile witness.
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said she is personally inclined not to present him, citing evidence already on record, while stressing that the panel will make the final decision as a team.
The prosecution is presenting evidence on the impeachment charge alleging Duterte’s misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, including P500 million at the OVP and P112.5 million at the Department of Education.
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