MORE unusual names took center stage during the resumption of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, August 24, 2026.
Among the names that appeared as recipients of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President were:
Antonio Pagong -- P100,000 for the purchase of information
Timon Andrew Pusa -- P100,000 for the payment of rental of transport vehicle related to confidential activities
Don Piang -- P250,000 for the payment of rental of transport vehicle related to confidential activities
May Pamana -- P150,000 for the purchase of information
Shane Ngitngit -- P150,000 for the purchase or rental of supplies, materials and equipment for confidential operations
Xuniso Belat -- P100,000 for the purchase of information
Former Office of the Vice President Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta said she disbursed the OVP’s P500 million worth of confidential funds in 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023 to former Vice Presidential Security Protection Group (VPSPG) head Colonel Raymund Lachica.
She said she released the money to Lachica following the orders of Duterte.
Private prosecutor Amando Ligutan pointed out that under Joint Circular 2015-01 of the Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Governance Commission For GOCCs, and Department of National Defense (DND) or the guidelines in the use of CIF, only the SDO of a government agency has the sole authority to disburse the funds “for the implementation of a program, activity, and project chargeable to the corresponding confidential and intelligence fund of the agency, upon approval of the head of agency.”
Acosta said after the implementation of the confidential activities, Lachica submitted to her fund utilization report and acknowledgement receipts, which she used for her liquidation and accomplishment report to the COA.
She recalled an instance where she asked Lachica about the acknowledgement receipts that were lacking pertinent information such as signature and date.
“Ang sagot sa akin ni Lachica, ma’am kung anong binigay ko sayo na dokumento yun na yon, kasi ang operation doon very sensitive information at confidential po ito,” said Acosta.
Acosta admitted that she fully relied on Lachica for the use of the funds because he implemented the confidential program on the ground and that he is an official trusted by Duterte.
She said she is focused on ensuring that the disbursed funds and the acknowledgement receipts tally.
“Buo po ang tiwala ko kay Colonel Lachica kasi unang-una kasi, siya ang dinesignate ni Vice President Sara as security officer of the Office of the Vice President. Siya din po ang commanding officer din ng VPSPG. Siya rin po ang nag-implement sa mga program ana under ng confidential fund kasi siya po ang eksperto doon sa ground siya po ang may alam,” she said.
Acosta said she did not inquire about the fictitious names in the acknowledgement although she believes they were by real humans.
“Kasi sa [Joint Circular] po ang understanding ko po your honor, hindi naman po kailangan na aliases ba or hindi ang nakalagay sa acknowledgement. In fact, wala pong format kung ano po ang template ng acknowledgement po,” she added.
Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros also raised during the proceedings the name “Clarisse Hontiveros” in one of the acknowledgement receipts submitted by Lachica dated February 24, 2023, coinciding with her birthday.
“Ang nakakagulat po, Miss Gina, ’yung petsa kung kailan daw binayaran ang Clarisse Hontiveros ay February 24, 2023, petsa po ng birthday ko. Napakalaking coincidence po,” Hontiveros said.
Acosta said she was not aware of the matter. (TPM/VoxPop Philippines)