House prosecutors in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial revealed that evidence points to a consistent practice in managing confidential funds spanning her time as mayor of Davao City and her roles leading the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Nagpalit ng opisina. Bakit parang hindi nagpalit ng sistema?” House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers stated in a news briefing.
Barbers noted that key officials currently tied to the OVP and DepEd had previously served under Duterte’s local administration in Davao, accompanied by striking operational similarities in how confidential funds were managed across these institutions.
However, he emphasized that a simple link to Davao does not automatically imply guilt.
“Ang connection sa Davao ay simula ng pagsisiyasat, hindi ito hatol sa bawat taong nanggaling doon,” Barbers explained. “Ang dapat tutukan ay ang ginawa. Sino ang naglabas? Sino ang tumanggap? At sino ang nag-utos?”
Among the individuals identified by the prosecution were Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, Assistant Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio and former special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta, all of whom transitioned from Davao City positions into OVP roles. Attorney Sunshine Fajarda, who also held a post in Davao, later served as a DepEd assistant secretary.
Barbers referenced Acosta’s earlier statements regarding the management of confidential funds during Duterte’s mayoral term, drawing parallels to the documentary and testimonial evidence submitted regarding the OVP and DepEd.
Regarding the OVP, Acosta testified that she withdrew confidential funds in cash and handed them directly to Duterte’s security officer, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, even though she remained legally accountable for the funds.
Similarly, evidence introduced for DepEd showed confidential cash moving from SDO Edward Fajarda to security officer Col. Dennis Nolasco.
Barbers underscored that the overlap in personnel, financial handling, and liquidation documentation demands thorough investigation.
“Kung may modus na nauulit, kailangan malaman kung sino ang nagdala at nagdirekta nito,” he added.
The prosecution contends that Duterte misused, misappropriated and improperly liquidated P500 million in confidential funds at the OVP and P112.5 million at DepEd.
Duterte has consistently denied all charges. The alleged multi-agency pattern forms a central part of the prosecution’s case, which now awaits a ruling from the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.