Senator Risa Hontiveros highlighted a striking irregularity in an acknowledgment receipt documenting an alleged confidential fund transaction involving an individual identified as “Clarisse Hontiveros.”
Speaking on the 17th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial in the Senate, Hontiveros pointed out that the receipt was dated February 24, 2023, which coincides precisely with her own birthday.
The lawmaker brought up the anomaly while interrogating former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, who was recalled to testify regarding the legitimacy of the entries on the disbursement records.
“Kaya ko tinatanong yung mga (receipts), may na-flash na ‘Clarisse Hontiveros,’ kaapelyido ko. Ang nakakagulat, yung petsa kung kailan daw binayaran ang ‘Clarisse Hontiveros,’ February 24, 2023. Petsa ng birthday ko,” Hontiveros said.
“Napakalaking coincidence,” she added.
When pressed on whether the entries listed on the receipts were verified, Acosta testified that the information was handled and checked by Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, the former chief of Duterte’s security detail.
In response to whether she recognized that the payout date mirrored Hontiveros’ birthday, Acosta maintained that she was unaware of the senator’s birth date.
“Hindi ko po alam na birthday niyo po yun,” Acosta said.