Witness Acosta: I don't know why Sara Duterte chose me to disburse funds

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MANILA, Philippines — Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta admitted before the impeachment court that she does not know why Vice President Sara Duterte chose her to manage the office's confidential funds despite her lack of formal training for the role.

During the direct examination of Acosta on Monday, August 24, private prosecutor Amando Ligutan asked about her qualifications for being assigned as the officer responsible for the disbursement of the OVP's confidential funds.

Acosta said that while she earned a degree in Customs Administration from a school in Davao, she never took the licensure examination.

The defense panel initially objected to the line of questioning, prompting impeachment presiding officer Francis Escudero to ask Ligutan to complete his question.

Escudero then asked: "Kung wala kayong training sa confidential activities, bakit po kayo ang napili bilang SDO para panghawakan ang confidential funds? Hindi lamang ng OVP pati ng sa Davao?"

(If you have no training in confidential activities, why were you chosen as the SDO to handle confidential funds, not only for the OVP but also for Davao?)

Acosta answered: "Hindi ko alam, your honor, bakit ako po ang kinuha ng bise presidente as SDO."

(I do not know, your honor, why the vice president chose me as the SDO.)

During the trial, Acosta repeatedly maintained that she disbursed the confidential funds to Col. Raymund Lachica, then head of the Vice Presidential Security Group, because he was the official tasked with implementing confidential activities.

She also testified that she released the OVP's P500 million in confidential funds to Lachica despite him not having a fidelity bond.

Blind loyalty

Sen. Raffy Tulfo pointed out that a document in his possession listed various informant names but bore what appeared to be the same signature, asking Acosta whether this raised any red flags for her.

Acosta replied that when she raised the matter with Lachica, he dismissed her concerns by explaining that the details involved sensitive and confidential information.

"Ang sagot naman niya sa akin, 'Ma'am Gina, those are sensitive information, Ma'am Gina, at saka confidential in nature po 'yon,'" Acosta said.

(He answered me, "Ma'am Gina, those are sensitive pieces of information, and they are confidential in nature.")

Tulfo then asked: "Nagiging istupido kayo sa ngalan ng isang tinatawag na blind loyalty. Nakapikit, kung ano 'yung sinasabi sa 'yo ng nakakataas, sinusunod mo na lang. Istupido ka pa rin pero in the name of blind loyalty, would you agree?"

(You are being stupid in the name of what is called blind loyalty. You keep your eyes closed to whatever your superiors tell you and just follow them. You are still being stupid, but in the name of blind loyalty, would you agree?)

Acosta replied: "Dili ko maintindihan, your honor. I'm sorry."

(I do not understand, your honor. I'm sorry.)

Acosta testified on the 17th day of Duterte's impeachment trial, where the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education is being discussed.