Prosecutors presented testimony alleging Vice President Sara Duterte ordered the release of confidential funds to a security officer during her impeachment trial.
The testimony is central to the case regarding the alleged misuse of government funds. If proven, the unauthorized diversion of these resources could provide the legal basis for the Vice President's removal from office.
During Day 16 [3] of the trial on Aug. 17, 2026 [4], the prosecution called Gina Acosta, a former Special Disbursing Officer for the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Acosta said that Duterte instructed the release of confidential funds to an OVP security officer.
Reports on the exact amount of the funds released vary. One source reported the amount as P125 million [1], while another reported the figure as P500 million [2].
The identity of the security officer involved also differs across reports. Some records identify the officer as Col. Raymund Dante [1], while other updates refer to him as Col. Raymund Lachica [2].
The trial is taking place in the Senate impeachment court in Manila. The proceedings focus on whether the Vice President bypassed established financial protocols to distribute these funds, an act that would violate Philippine law governing the use of confidential and intelligence funds.
The defense has not yet provided a public rebuttal to the specific testimony of Acosta regarding the security officer's role in the fund transfers. The trial continues to examine the paper trail of the OVP's spending during Duterte's tenure.
“Prosecutors presented testimony alleging Vice President Sara Duterte ordered the release of confidential funds”
The discrepancy in the reported amounts—ranging from P125 million to P500 million—and the conflicting names of the security officer indicate a high level of volatility in the evidence currently being presented. However, the core of the prosecution's strategy relies on the testimony of a former internal officer to establish a direct link between the Vice President's orders and the movement of funds, shifting the trial from a general audit to a specific allegation of misconduct.
