Acosta's 'Template' Answers Test Credibility in VP Sara Trial
MANILA, Philippines - The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte took a sharp turn on Monday, August 24, as senator-judges pressed Gina Acosta, the special disbursing officer (SDO) for the OVP's P125-million confidential funds in 2022, over her lax scrutiny of liquidation documents. The core question: did she fail in her duty by simply trusting the word of the program implementor?
What did Acosta admit about the confidential funds receipts?
Acosta repeatedly told the impeachment court that her role was limited to disbursing the funds. She said Colonel Raymund Lachica, the former security head of the OVP, was the one who implemented the programs and submitted the acknowledgement receipts for liquidation. She admitted she relied entirely on his assurances and the documents he provided, having no personal knowledge of the actual transactions.
“Kasi siya po ang may alam. Siya po ang nag-implement. Siya po ang nag-implement sa mga projects sa confidential (Because he's the one who knows about it. He was the one who implemented the projects under the confidential funds),” Acosta told the court.
Why were senator-judges frustrated with her answers?
The House prosecution panel highlighted that the acknowledgment receipts contained unusual names like “Pagong,” “Pusa,” and “Ngitngit.” Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo asked Acosta why she did not scrutinize the receipts more closely given these red flags. Her response, which she repeated almost verbatim, was that Lachica was the implementor on the ground.
This prompted Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to cut his interjection short, exclaiming, “Ayoko na marinig ang template (I don't want to hear the template anymore).” The prosecution itself flagged her answers as seemingly “templated.”
What did Hontiveros ask about accountability?
Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros posed a pointed question: did Acosta think it was fair that she might take the fall for the alleged misuse of funds in her capacity as an accounting officer? Acosta's reply was a show of faith in her superior, saying, “Alam ko po, Ma'am, na alam po ni Ma'am Vice President Sara Duterte ang ginagawa niya (I know that Vice President Sara Duterte knows what she is doing).”
Acosta is a key witness for Article I of the impeachment, which accuses Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds from the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd).
What is the status of former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda?
The court also addressed the absence of another key figure, former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda. His lawyers informed the court he suffered a brain stroke and cannot testify. Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero ordered the Senate medical bureau to examine Fajarda and validate the medical findings before granting any excuse from the trial.
“The court notes the medical certificate from counsel and physician of Mr. Fajarda. However, before we excuse him as requested, the court is instructing and directing the head of the Senate's medical and dental bureau, Dr. Sison, to examine the witness and validate the medical findings with his physicians and submit a report to this court regarding his condition and if he indeed he will be unable to testify this week and when, if at all, he can testify,” Escudero said.
The trial continues as the nation watches how the evidence unfolds, with the spotlight now firmly on the diligence, or lack thereof, of those who handled the funds.