Prosecution: Sara trial testimony traced P612.5-M funds to public money

MANILA, Philippines — The National Treasury released the P612.5 million in confidential funds at the center of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, and the full amount was later withdrawn in cash through seven checks, prosecutors said.

LandBank officers' testimony said P500 million in withdrawals were through the the Office of the Vice President account, while P112.5 million was from the Department of Education. 

Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, a lead prosecutor, said the bank witnesses had established the source and movement of the funds before the trial shifts this week to how the money was spent and liquidated.

"Unang-una, napatunayan natin na ang pondo ay galing sa public fund. Pangalawa, napatunayan na ito ay iniwithdraw," Acidre said in a news release Sunday, August 2. (First, we established that the money came from public funds. Second, that those were withdrawn.)

Former LandBank managers Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camponsano testified last week as the prosecution opened its presentation on Article I of the impeachment complaint.

Constantino testified that four Treasury checks worth P125 million each, or a total of P500 million, were encashed for the Office of the Vice President in December 2022 and in February, April and July 2023.

The checks were encashed by OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, accompanied by Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio, according to the report.

Camponsano testified that three Treasury checks worth P37.5 million each, totaling P112.5 million, were encashed for the Department of Education in February, April and July 2023.

The checks were encashed by DepEd Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda during Duterte's tenure as education secretary.

Article I accuses Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds received by the OVP and DepEd from 2022 to 2023.

Trial moves to audit phase

The prosecution is expected to call Commission on Audit witnesses this week to discuss how the confidential funds were audited and whether their liquidation documents complied with rules governing confidential and intelligence funds.

Former COA state auditor Roderick Wamil and Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office Supervising Auditor Celine May Del Campo are expected to testify first.

"The next witnesses will come from the COA. They will explain how the confidential funds were audited and how the liquidation was reviewed. They will also discuss whether the supporting documents complied with the rules governing confidential and intelligence funds," Acidre said.

House Legislative Information Resources Management Department Director Marivic Pareja is also expected to testify later in the week.

The former COA auditors are expected to discuss the commission's decision directing the return of P73.287 million in confidential funds released to the OVP in 2022.

A 2024 House inquiry found alleged irregularities in the liquidation documents, including acknowledgment receipts bearing names such as "Mary Grace Piattos," "Milky Secuya" and "Kokoy Villamin."

Based on Philippine Statistics Authority certifications and National Bureau of Investigation findings presented during the inquiry, many of the supposed recipients had no matching birth records. Several signatures on the receipts were also alleged to have been written by the same hand.