The legal camp of Vice President Sara Duterte appears to be washing its hands and shifting responsibility for questioned confidential funds onto her former security chief, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, according to Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V.
Speaking at a press briefing, Ortega, a member of the House prosecution panel in the Vice President’s impeachment trial, argued that repeated references to Lachica during trial testimony suggest a clear attempt to divert accountability away from Duterte.
“Ako, basa ko, kasi paulit-ulit nilang mine-mention ‘yung pangalan niya, parang nag-hands off sila, naghuhugas-kamay,” Ortega said. “Parang ang tema po nila yung mga nakaraang araw is parang may nilalaglag sila… parang nilalaglag nila si security officer. Si Col. Lachica.”
Lachica, former commander of the Vice-Presidential Security and Protection Group, has been repeatedly named regarding the P500 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) across 2022 and 2023. Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta previously testified that she turned over encashed P125-million checks directly to Lachica under Duterte’s instructions. Furthermore, OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio testified that information regarding confidential activities and liquidation papers originated from the security chief.
Despite these efforts, Ortega maintained that the Vice President remains ultimately responsible as the head of the agency who authorized the disbursing officers.
“Pero paano nila i-escape ‘yung accountability? Eh yung mga disbursing officer, inutusan naman at saka binigyan ng authority ng Vice President. So, she is very much accountable. Siya ang pinaka-accountable dito,” Ortega stressed, adding that Acosta’s earlier testimony had already established that the go-signal came directly from Duterte.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed Tuesday that it has terminated its internal inquiry into Lachica to prevent duplicating an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman. The House prosecution panel has yet to decide whether it will summon Lachica as a hostile witness.