Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified before the Senate impeachment court on Monday, August 17, explaining how she encashed ₱125 million in confidential funds and handed the money over to Col. Raymund Lachica following instructions from Vice President Sara Duterte.
Appearing as a hostile witness during the 16th day of the trial, Acosta allowed House prosecutors to trace the transaction—spanning the processing of OVP paperwork, the cash withdrawal at a Land Bank branch on Shaw Boulevard, and the final transfer to Lachica.
Acosta, who currently serves as vice presidential staff officer VI, testified that she secured the cash in four traveling bags and transported it to the OVP, where it was turned over to Lachica, who then headed the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).
After private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan produced the disbursement voucher and check for the final quarter of 2022, Acosta confirmed that the voucher processing, check issuance, and encashment all occurred on December 20, 2022.
When asked by Ligutan if finishing all steps within a single day indicated that the transaction was rushed, Acosta disputed the characterization.
“Hindi po minadali ‘yung pag-disburse. Dumaan po siya sa regular na proseso namin sa office, Your Honor,” she stated.
Acosta testified that she arrived at the bank between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. after being notified by the OVP cash division that the check was ready. She confirmed that Land Bank of the Philippines received prior notice to prepare the ₱125 million sum.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero later sustained a defense objection when Ligutan attempted to demonstrate that the advance notice to the bank preceded the approval of the voucher and preparation of the check.
“Nakalagay siya sa box. Naka-bundle, tag-₱1 million ang isa ka bundle, nakabalot sa cellophane na selyado pa,” Acosta noted regarding the cash retrieval.
She mentioned counting 125 sealed bundles without opening the cellophane or counting individual ₱1,000 bills.
The funds were subsequently moved from boxes into four black, oblong traveling bags.
“Ako po, Your Honor, ang naglagay ng mga pera sa bag,” Acosta admitted.
During the session, Ligutan introduced physical mock-ups and an artificial intelligence-generated simulation to demonstrate the volume of ₱125 million in cash.
Defense counsel Lindon Miguel Bacquel challenged the visual aids for lacking factual foundation, leading the court to record the defense’s continuing objection.
Upon arriving at the OVP, Acosta said two VPSPG personnel assisted her in unloading the luggage after realizing she could not lift one bag independently. The luggage was placed on a trolley, transported via a service elevator, and moved into an extension office.
Acosta added that, based on Duterte’s directives, she contacted Lachica post-encashment to inform him the cash was ready.
In a post-hearing press conference, prosecutors asserted that Acosta’s account directly tied Duterte to the delivery of the ₱125 million confidential allocation to Lachica.
“Naging maliwanag kanina na nakumpirma ang sinabi ng mga Landbank managers na una nating narinig na itong bulto-bultong pera ay tinanggap ng [SDO], Gina Acosta,” stated Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr., private prosecution panel member and spokesperson.
The prosecution maintained that Lachica lacked the authority to receive or spend the confidential allocation because he was neither an organic OVP employee nor the appointed special disbursing officer.