Politics · Philippines Bureau
OVP officer admits disbursing confidential funds to security chief
A former disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President has acknowledged releasing confidential funds to the OVP's security officer, in violation of regulations governing such expenditures. The admission came during the 17th day of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Gina Acosta, the Office of the Vice President's former special disbursing officer, testified that she transferred confidential funds to the OVP's security officer despite being aware that regulations prohibit such transfers between individuals.
Accosta's statement during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte represents a significant development in the proceedings, which have centered on the handling of the OVP's confidential and intelligence funds.
Joint administrative circulars governing the use of confidential funds explicitly restrict their movement from one authorized person to another, yet Acosta acknowledged making the disbursement to the security officer. Her testimony provides firsthand documentation of the transaction that has drawn scrutiny during the trial.
The admission adds to the growing body of evidence being presented in the impeachment case, now in its third week of hearings. The trial continues to examine the management and utilization of funds under the Vice President's office.