Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Vice President Sara Duterte was aware and authorized all the processes and activities in relation to her office’s confidential funds (CFs) worth P500 million in total, Duterte’s assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio testified on Tuesday.

The movements cover the last quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.

The testimony was given after prosecution counsel Mae Divinagracia asked Ortonio whether or not Duterte is the ‘mastermind’ or ‘architect’ of the Office of the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.

‘You will agree with me that this whole confidential funds matter, ang arkitekto at mastermind nito ay si Sara Duterte?’ Divinagracia said.

(You will agree with me that this whole confidential funds matter, the architect and mastermind of it is Sara Duterte?)

The question was opposed by the defense, and was stricken off the record, but when Divinagracia attempted to rephrase, she argued harder on the use of the word ‘architect’ in characterizing the vice president.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, at this point, asked Ortonio himself:

‘Lahat ng bagay kaugnay ng confidential fund, mula sa pagrequest, sa pagrelease, sa pagencash, sa paggastos, sa pagliquidate, sa pagsagot sa mga AOMs, notice of suspension, at notice of disallowance ay una, nalalaman ng ikalawang pangulo; pangalawa, inawtorisa niya base sa mga pirma niya sa iba’t ibang mga dokyumento; at pangatlo, ay nasa ilalim ng kaniyang superbisyon bilang head of agency?’

(Everything related to the confidential fund, from requesting, to releasing, to encashing, to spending, to liquidating, to responding to AOMs, notices of suspension, and notices of disallowance, is first, known to the second president; second, authorized by him based on his signatures on various documents; and third, is under his supervision as head of agency?)

‘Based on my understanding and based on what I know – yes. The vice president knows about the confidential activities and how it is being implemented,’ Ortonio answered.

Escudero continued: ‘May ginawa ka ba na hindi alam o hindi in-authorize ni Vice President Sara kaugnay sa confidential funds, kasabay na ang pagsagot mo sa AOMS, notice of suspension, at notice of disallowance?’

(Did you do anything that Vice President Sara did not know about or did not authorize in relation to confidential funds, at the same time as you responded to the AOMS, notice of suspension, and notice of disallowance?)

‘None, Your Honor,’ Ortonio replied.

Escudero then asked, ‘Lahat alam nya at inauthorize niya?’

(She knows everything and she authorized it?)

To this, Ortonio responded in the affirmative.

During Divinagracia’s direct examination, Ortonio testified to drafting the OVP’s request for CFs from the Department of Budget and Management, signing the disbursement vouchers, encashing the P125 million funds per quarter, and preparing a reply to the Commission on Audit’s AOM.

All of these actions, Ortonio testified, were under the orders of Duterte herself.

The witness also identified the vice president’s signatures in authorizing and certifying all other documents and requirements needed to process CFs. /

Payments for supplies such as chairs, as well as medicines and food went directly to informants and agents of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), according to a witness.

OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio was called to the witness stand by the prosecution team on Tuesday in connection with Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds (CFs).

Ortonio, who also serves as assistant chief of staff at the OVP, was later declared a hostile witness by the Senate impeachment court.

During her direct examination of the witness, private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia asked for proof that the OVP’s CFs were indeed used for supplies.

‘Ma’am the explanation that was provided to me Ma’am was that binigay po ang pera directly dun sa mga informants and agents and the informants and agents na po ang bumili ng mga medical and food supplies,’ Ortonio said.

(Ma’am, the explanation that was provided to me Ma’am was that the money was given directly to the informants and agents, and the informants and agents themselves purchased the medical and food supplies.)

‘So it’s the acknowledgement receipt which is the proof of the release of the funds to the informants or the agents,’ he added.

Presiding Officer and Sen. Francis Escudero later pursued the prosecutor’s line of questioning.

‘Ang ginamit nyo na pang food and medicine sa confidential fund, binigay nyong deretso sa recipient and presumably, sabi ng recipient, ibibili ko ng pagkain ito, ibibili ko ng gamot to?’ Escudero asked.

(The confidential funds you used for food and medicine were given directly to the recipients, who presumably said, ‘I’ll use this to buy food’ or ‘I’ll use this to buy medicine.)

‘Based on the information, your honor, provided by the security officer. That how it was, ganun yung procedure on how the medical and food aid (was given),’ the witness said.

Ortonio was apparently referring to Duterte’s former security officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, who was designated by the vice president to handle the P500 million in confidential funds released to the OVP.

The payments for the said supplies had no official receipts, according to the witness, still citing information from the security officer.

He gave the same answer when Escudero asked about the chairs also bought by the OVP using the CFs.

‘Regarding the chairs, based on the information also provided by the security officer, no receipt as well because the representation was that yun ang ipamimili nila (the funds would be used) for the tables and chairs,’ Ortonio said,.

‘So what you’re saying is ‘binigay din yung pera sa informant,’ quote and quote that is your wording, para sya ang bibili ng chairs at yun yung bayad sa kanya? Quote and quote,’ the presiding officer went on.

(So what you’re saying is that the money was also given to the informant-quote, unquote, those are your words-so that the informant could purchase the chairs, and that was the payment to the informant? Quote, unquote.)

The witness confirmed the statement.

‘So literally, may informant, imbes na bigyan ng kung ano binayaran ng cash para bilhin yung tables, yung chairs, yung food, yung medicine?’ Escudero asked.

(So literally, there was an informant who, instead of being given whatever was paid for in cash, was given the money to purchase the tables, chairs, food, and medicine?)

‘Yes sir. That’s based on the information that was provided sir by the security officer,’ the witness answered.

When using the regular budget of the OVP, however, Ortonio said their office buys medicines directly from partner pharmacies and releases them directly to beneficiaries.

‘In the form of medicine na?’ Escudero asked, to which the witness answered in the affirmative.

Since they use the regular budget of the OVP, Ortonio said the payment for medicines comes with official receipts

The local government unit (LGU) of Kidapawan City will serve free eat-all-you-can fruits and ice cream at its official booth during the Kalivungan Festival of North Cotabato, which is marking its 112th anniversary.

City Agriculturist Marisa Aton said the fruits galore will take place on Thursday, Aug. 2,7 where at least 500 kilos of various fruits will be served to visitors dropping by Kidapawan’s booth inside the capitol grounds in Barangay Amas.

Durian, lanzones, rambutan, marang, and mangosteen will be among the tropical fruits to be served at the booth.

The 16 towns and the component Kidapawan City will establish a display booth featuring their products during the weeklong Kalivungan festivities.

The Kalivungan Festival will formally commence on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and culminate on Sept. 1.

Aton said that on Sept.1, the city government will serve another free eat-all-you-can fruits and ice cream.

The ice cream flavors are derived from the tropical fruits produced in the city.

‘No limits as long as there’s enough supply of ice cream; anybody can avail even one to sawa (until full),’ Aton said.

Last Aug. 18, the city government successfully conducted a 2.2-kilometer fruits-eat-all-you-can in the streets as part of its Timpupo (Harvest) Festival.

The Kidapawan City police estimated a crowd of 50,000, with visitors coming from the neighboring provinces of Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao del Sur.

The Coconut Palace in Pasay City is set to reopen to the public next year, following the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Leaders Summit in November, according to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Members of the media were able to tour the Coconut Palace on Tuesday, following its six-month renovation worth P200 million spearheaded by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

An iconic landmark showcasing Filipino ingenuity, artistry and sustainable architecture, Coconut Palace is among the venues of the 49th Asean Summit from Nov. 13 to 15 in Manila.

‘As owners of the property, we want to share this part of the Filipino heritage to the general public. So that is what we are going to do moving forward,’ GSIS Executive Vice President Joseph Phillip Andre told reporters.

‘After that (the Asean Summit), we will endeavor to be able to open it to the public. Perhaps by early next year, when we already have a property manager to handle this,’ he said.

The GSIS is considering allowing public access to the newly restored property, with the possibility of collecting entrance fees. The proposal, however, remains subject to the approval of the GSIS Board of Trustees.

Andres said the Coconut Palace was previously open to the public without an entrance fee, but fees may be charged for private events and specific bookings.

Designed by National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa, the Coconut Palace, historically known as Tahanang Pilipino, was commissioned in 1978 by then-First Lady Imelda Marcos as a government guest house for foreign dignitaries.

It was offered to Pope John Paul II during his visit to the country in 1981. The pope, however, refused to stay there because it was too opulent given the level of poverty in the country during that time.

The edifice gained international acclaim for its holistic integration of the coconut tree’s elements in its architecture and décor.

Beyond its namesake material, a myriad of other traditional Filipino resources: capiz shells, solihiya (woven rattan) and narra wood are ubiquitous throughout the space.

The historic landmark features seven bedrooms curated in honor of local regions: Ilocos, Iloilo, Mountain Province, Zamboanga, Pampanga, Marawi and Bicol. Each bedroom is a meticulous showcase of diversity in textile, furniture and art exclusive to each of the regions.

The Coconut Palace also served as official residence and space for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

In 2023, it was declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines, recognizing its deep significance to the country’s heritage.

Did the mayor just wake up? The weather has been bad since last night.’

This was the comment in the vernacular of one of more than 2,000 netizens who reacted to the suspension of classes in nearby Angeles City on Tuesday.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II announced the suspension at around 6:30 a.m., when many students were already in school or on their way to class.

‘Nag-suspend, nasa school na mga bata. Pumasok kahit maulan. Sana naman agahan nila ang pag-suspend (They suspended classes when the children were already in school. They went to school despite the rain. They should announce the suspension earlier),’ a parent commented on Lazatin’s and the city government’s Facebook posts.

Classes usually start at 7 a.m.

‘Due to the sudden deterioration in weather conditions, face-to-face classes in all public and private schools in Angeles City, at all levels, have been suspended,’ the Angeles City government said in a Facebook post.

Lazatin also posted the announcement on his Facebook page.

Several netizens, however, disagreed with Lazatin’s description of the weather as having suddenly deteriorated, saying the bad weather had already started Monday night.

‘Sudden, he said? The weather has been bad since last night,’ a netizen said in the vernacular.

‘Kung pwede po gabi pa lang mag-announce na (If possible, please announce it the night before),’ another commented.

About 90 minutes before the class suspension was announced, Lazatin had reminded parents and guardians in a Facebook post to bring umbrellas or raincoats amid a forecast of cloudy skies with scattered rain showers.

He also said the city government was continually coordinating with schools regarding the possibility of suspending classes if necessary.

‘As of this posting, wala pa po tayong natatanggap na abiso para sa anumang suspension. Batay rin sa kasalukuyang impormasyon at sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga DRRMOs at iba pang kalapit na LGU, wala pa tayong sapat na basehan upang magdeklara ng citywide suspension,’ he said.

(As of this posting, we have not received any advisory regarding a suspension. Based on the current information and coordination with the DRRMOs and other neighboring LGUs, we do not yet have sufficient basis to declare a citywide suspension.)

Lazatin also reminded parents and guardians of their important role in assessing conditions in their respective areas.

‘Kung sa inyong palagay ay mahihirapan o magiging hindi ligtas para sa inyong anak ang pagpasok dahil sa pabugso-bugsong ulan, o kondisyon ng daan, maaari po ninyong ipa-excuse ang inyong anak sa paaralan at makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang school authorities,’ he said.

(If you believe it would be difficult or unsafe for your child to go to school because of heavy rains or road conditions, you may have your child excused from school and coordinate with school authorities.)

Some netizens remained dissatisfied with the timing of the announcement.

‘Mayor Carmelo ‘Jon’ Lazatin II, with all due respect, I hope next time the timing of class suspension announcements can be handled more carefully. The morning session starts at 7 a.m., and by the time the suspension was announced, many students were already at school,’ a netizen commented on the mayor’s post.

‘Parents had already spent money on transportation, and some children had already gotten soaked in the rain on their way there,’ the netizen added.

The netizen observed that Lazatin had initially said there was no advisory yet and advised parents to bring umbrellas and raincoats.

‘If the weather was already this concerning, I believe you should know better than to wait until students were already in school before making the decision,’ the netizen said.

‘By then, the children had already gone through the inconvenience and exposure to the rain, only to be told afterward that classes were suspended,’ the netizen added.

The commenter also pointed out that while classes start at 7 a.m., many students walk to school because their families cannot afford transportation expenses and leave home early to arrive on time.

‘And while you may say that attending is ultimately at the parents’ discretion, students also have quizzes, activities, and lessons they don’t want to miss. Parents shouldn’t have to choose between risking their child’s safety and having them miss something important at school,’ the netizen said.

Another netizen said some schools begin classes as early as 6 a.m., stressing that class suspensions should be made before students leave home.

Col. Raymund Lachica, the former chief of Vice President Sara Duterte’s security detail, on Tuesday said he never refused to testify before the Senate impeachment court and is ‘prepared to tell the truth’ should he be summoned to stand as witness.

Lachica issued the statement after his name was floated several times by former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta during Monday’s trial where Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds is currently being tackled.

During the hearing, Acosta admitted that she handed the office’s confidential funds to Lachica-even if she knew that the latter was not a bonded officer.

She also confirmed that it was Lachica who released the funds for implementation of confidential activities.

‘I have never refused to appear or testify; if lawfully called, I am prepared to tell the truth, subject to applicable laws and security restrictions,’ Lachica said in a statement, as provided by the OVP.

INQUIRER has asked the OVP what made Lachica issue the statement, but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

The prosecution panel has also yet to actually confirm whether or not it will summon Lachica as a witnesses in Duterte’s impeachment trial

About 100 tourists and local travelers were scheduled to fly out from the island province of Batanes on Tuesday on board a mercy flight arranged by the Philippine Air Force when it was postponed due to high winds.

Occupants of the PAF C-130 plane l, who were stranded in Batanes for days, were sent back to their lodging places because gusty winds and rain exceeded standard safety limits for planes, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

The southwest monsoon and typhoons dumped more than two weeks of rain, resulting in the cancellation of commercial and government-chartered flights to Batanes.

Air Force officials told disaster responders that pilots adhere to the rules to ensure safe flights.

PDRRMO officials said C-130 seats allotted for the tourists and residents would still be honored once good weather allows flights to resume.

The provincial government earlier asked for mercy flights to bring home stranded island guests who are under the care of the Provincial Heritage and Tourism Office (PHTO).

The Batanes provincial government continues to provide relief goods, household kits and lodging amenities to the stranded tourists and visitors.

The provincial government has also been distributing maintenance medicines, first aid support, and medical monitoring to people in need

The Department of Health in Mimaropa has vaccinated 137,245 children against measles and rubella, representing 43.96 percent of the region’s target population as of 7 a.m. on Aug. 24.

The DOH Mimaropa tracker shows that 312,191 children have been targeted for the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), that is being conducted across Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan and Puerto Princesa City.

The latest figure marks an increase from the 109,371 children, or 35.03 percent coverage, reported as of Aug. 19.

Occidental Mindoro recorded the highest vaccination coverage among the provinces, with 29,158 of its 54,894 target children vaccinated, or 53.12 percent.

It was followed by Romblon, with 12,316 of 25,881 children vaccinated, or 47.59 percent; Palawan, 43,571 of 97,125, or 44.86 percent; Marinduque, 9,180 of 21,841, or 42.03 percent; and Oriental Mindoro, 34,289 of 86,196, or 39.78 percent.

Puerto Princesa City had the lowest coverage at 33.26 percent, with 8,731 of its 26,254 target children vaccinated.

The DOH also reported that 108,960 children had received Vitamin A supplementation, equivalent to 34.90 percent of the region’s target.

The ‘Ligtas Tigdas 2026’ campaign is being implemented from Aug. 10 to 28 and provides supplemental measles-rubella vaccination to eligible children aged 6 to 59 months, regardless of their previous vaccination status.

The campaign also includes Vitamin A supplementation.

The DOH has been urging parents and guardians to bring eligible children to vaccination sites to help close immunization gaps and strengthen community protection against measles and rubella.

The agency is targeting at least 95 percent vaccination coverage to help prevent outbreaks and protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases

The campaign set to end on Aug. 28.

A former special disbursing officer’s testimony before the Senate impeachment court pointed to a continuing system of entrusting confidential funds to security officers under Vice President Sara Duterte, from her years as Davao City mayor to her tenure at the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Gina Acosta, who had served as special disbursing officer (SDO) for confidential funds in Davao City and later at the OVP, testified on Monday that it was standard operating procedure (SOP) in both offices to turn over confidential funds to a security officer, despite knowing he was not a bonded officer.

Acosta has been declared a hostile witness by the prosecution in view of her current position at the OVP and her employment relationship with Duterte.

The second day of her testimony on the 17th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial focused on confidential fund transactions during Duterte’s Davao City mayoralty from 2019 to 2022 and at the OVP in 2022 and 2023.

Acosta told the court she turned over responsibility for disbursing OVP confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, then chief of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

She said Duterte had designated Lachica as her security officer and that he was the one who knew and implemented the confidential operations on the ground.

The arrangement, she acknowledged, was not unique to the OVP.

Suspecting same system

When prosecution counsel Amando Ligutan asked if the same practice, which he described as ‘modus operandi,’ was followed when she was SDO in Davao City, impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero noted that such characterization has a secondary meaning.

Escudero added that it is better to ask if this the standard operating procedure that Acosta followed in both Davao City and OVP. Acosta confirmed that it was their SOP.

The prosecution is seeking to establish whether the same system of disbursing and liquidating confidential funds followed Duterte from Davao City to the OVP.

Ligutan presented a graphic showing that Davao City received P460 million in confidential funds annually from 2019 to 2022, totaling P1.84 billion during Duterte’s four years as mayor.

Acosta repeatedly said she could not remember the amounts, citing the passage of time and her age.

‘I cannot remember, Your Honor. It’s been a long time and I am also old, Your Honor,’ the 61-year-old Acosta said.

During cross-examination, however, Acosta was able to answer defense counsel Lindon Bacquel’s questions on whether the Commission on Audit had issued audit observation memoranda or notices of disallowance involving Davao City’s confidential funds during her tenure.

She said none had been issued.

Memory questioned

On redirect, Ligutan pointed out the contrast, saying Acosta appeared able to recall events when questioned by the defense after repeatedly saying she could not remember them during direct examination.

Acosta clarified that she could remember events but not specific amounts.

The prosecution also questioned Acosta about the release of P500 million in four tranches of P125 million each in OVP confidential funds to Lachica.

Acosta said she no longer had acknowledgment receipts showing that Lachica received the money because the documents had been returned to him after liquidation. She said she relied on documents supplied by Lachica to prepare and certify the liquidation reports.

Some receipts, she said, lacked dates or names. When she raised questions, Lachica told her the documents he provided were all that could be given because the transactions were sensitive and ‘confidential in nature.’

‘I relied on whatever documents were given to me by the security officer, Your Honor,’ she said.

Project implementer

Senator-judge Sherwin Gatchalian questioned how Acosta could assure the public that the money had not been pocketed or misappropriated when she did not personally witness its use and relied on a utilization report signed by Lachica.

Acosta said she trusted Lachica because Duterte had designated him as a security officer and because he was responsible for the funds.

‘Because he was the one who knew. He was the one who implemented the confidential projects,’ she said.

She recalled questioning Lachica over acknowledgment receipts with missing dates and names.

‘Col. Lachica would tell me, ‘Ma’am Gina, whatever documents I gave you, that’s it, because the transactions or operations involved sensitive and confidential information,” she quoted him as saying.

The prosecution cited Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which provides that cash advances for confidential and intelligence funds should be drawn by duly designated and bonded SDOs or heads of agency for authorized activities. It also prohibits the transfer of confidential funds from one accountable officer to another.

Acosta nevertheless testified that she turned over the funds to Lachica, who was not a bonded OVP disbursing officer.

The prosecution argued that this could have broken the accountability chain because Acosta remained the accountable officer while Lachica, who was not an OVP employee, controlled and implemented the spending.

The VPSPG is a military unit under the command and operational control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Call Lachica to stand

Acosta had earlier testified that P125 million in cash was packed into four traveling bags after it was withdrawn from a Landbank branch on Shaw Boulevard in December 2022. She said she later followed Duterte’s instruction to turn over the money to Lachica.

Senator-judge Joel Villanueva suggested that Lachica be called to testify, noting that Acosta had acknowledged having no personal knowledge of how the funds were actually used.

The court has yet to determine whether the practices described by Acosta constituted misuse of public funds or violated applicable rules.

Malacañang on Tuesday said the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has already presented sufficient evidence to merit her conviction over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

This comes after former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, during Monday’s hearing, pointed to what appeared to be a continuing practice of entrusting confidential funds to a security officer under Duterte, from her years as Davao City mayor to her tenure at the OVP.

‘Ayon sa Palasyo, in a way, in a way, yes. Pagdating sa pagturo kay Bise Presidente, kay Col. [Raymund Dante] Lachica na sila ang nag-control ng pondo para sa confidential funds,’ said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro when asked whether she believed the prosecution had presented enough evidence to warrant Duterte’s conviction over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

(According to the Palace, in a way, yes. When it comes to pointing to the Vice President and Col. Lachica as the ones who controlled the funds for the confidential funds.)

But Castro noted that the decision remains in the hands of senator-judges: ‘Depende po iyan sa magiging desisyon ng mga judges. Lagi naman nilang sinasabi na ito ay pulitika at mukhang hindi sila pupunta sa ebidensiya.’

(It depends on the decision of the judges. They always say that this is political and that it seems they will not look at the evidence.)

‘Pero ang mga kababayan natin, mas marami ang gusto na ebidensiya ang gamitin kaysa sa isyu ng pulitika. Kasi kapag ebidensiya ang ginamit natin, mas matutugunan natin, unang-una, ang due process, justice, at kung ano ang nararapat at magiging benepisyo nito sa ating bansa at sa taumbayan,’ she continued.

(But our fellow Filipinos, the majority of them, want the evidence to be considered rather than the political issue. Because if we base our decision on the evidence, we can better uphold due process and justice, determine what is appropriate, and ensure what will ultimately benefit our country and the Filipino people.)

What Acosta said

During the 17th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Acosta said it was standard operating procedure (SOP) in both offices to turn over confidential funds to Col. Lachica, despite knowing that he was not a bonded officer.

When prosecution counsel Amando Ligutan asked whether she remembered the amounts disbursed in Davao City from 2019 to 2022, Acosta repeatedly said she could not recall the amounts, citing the passage of time and her age.

In the same cross-examination, however, Acosta was able to answer questions on whether the Commission on Audit had issued audit observation memoranda or notices of disallowance involving Davao City’s confidential funds during her tenure. She said none had been issued.

This prompted Ligutan to point out the contrast, saying Acosta appeared able to recall certain events when questioned by the defense despite repeatedly saying during direct examination that she could not recall them.

Acosta clarified that she could recount events but not specific amounts.

Castro, during today’s briefing, flagged the supposed ‘pattern’ in Acosta’s testimony, describing her responses as evasive and repetitive.

‘Dito ay makikita ng sambayanang Pilipino kung paano naging dekahon ang sagot ng witness [Acosta]. Paulit-ulit kahit sa ang daling tanong, doon pa rin at doon at doon ang iikot ang sagot niya,’ Castro said.

(Here, the Filipino people can see how evasive the witness [Acosta] was in answering the questions. She kept repeating the same response, even when asked simple questions. No matter what was asked, she kept circling back to the same answer.)

”Pag hindi na niya alam, sasabihin niya hindi naiintindihan or hindi niya alam. Pero lumalabas pa rin ang totoo, dahil itinuro niya pa rin si VP Sara at saka si Colonel Lachica,’ she continued.

(When she no longer knew the answer, she would say that she did not understand or that she did not know. But the truth still came out because she still pointed to VP Sara and Colonel Lachica.)

The Palace official said that if the confidential funds were not properly accounted for, it would constitute prima facie evidence that the funds were used for personal purposes.

‘Paano magkakaroon ng magandang liderato kung ang mga pondong ito, sa ganito pa lang na halaga ay mahihirapan na silang i-account. Tandaan natin, this is a public fund and this confidential fund is part of public fund,’ Castro continued.

(How can there be good leadership if they are already having difficulty accounting for funds of this amount? Let us remember that this is public money, and these confidential funds are part of the public funds.)