By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio on Wednesday confirmed to senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte that its former head of security, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, was not an employee of the office.
Senator-judge Vicente Sotto III asked Ortonio, a hostile witness of the prosecution panel, to clarify Lachica’s formal relationship with the office.
Sen. Sotto said that since administrative and financial matters passed through Ortonio, “I’m sure you would know: What is the employment status of Col. Lachica in the Office of the Vice President?”
Replying, Ortonio said: “Col. Lachica is the group commander of the VPSPG (Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group), and he is not an employee of the OVP, but he has an order coming from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) designating him as the group commander for the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.”
Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta earlier testified that Lachica handled all the P500 million confidential funds of the OVP upon the orders of the Vice President.
Acosta has admitted having turned over the funds to Lachica because she was tasked by the Vice President to implement all confidential programs and activities.
Sotto pressed on the distinction between an Armed Forces designation and a formal OVP employment: “You’re saying he is not employed?”
“He does not have any employment status in the Office of the Vice President?” Sotto asked, to which Ortonio replied: “Yes, Your Honor.”
The exchange placed Lachica’s status on the record after days of testimony identifying him as the person assigned to implement the OVP’s confidential activities.
Ortonio said the security officer supplied information used in the OVP’s replies to Commission on Audit findings.
Earlier testimony concerned four confidential-fund tranches of P125 million, each released to the OVP from the fourth quarter of 2022 through the third quarter of 2023.
When Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo later asked who created aliases appearing in acknowledgment receipts, Ortonio answered: “I cannot provide information, sir, because I do not have any participation in the implementation of the confidential activities.”
During Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan’s interjection, Ortonio similarly said he could not personally verify whether cash described as intended for medicines was ultimately used for that purpose.
“I would have no idea, sir, on the implementation,” he said.
While Ortonio was involved in administrative and financial matters, reviewed the relevant joint memorandum circular, and assisted in answering audit observations, he repeatedly said he only relied on information supplied by security officers for the substance of the confidential operations.
Meanwhile, House prosecution spokespersons said the testimony that Lachica was not an OVP employee has added weight to concerns that four P125-million confidential-fund tranches were turned over to a person who was neither a special disbursing officer (SDO) nor fidelity-bonded.
At a press briefing, prosecution spokesperson and adviser Robert Ace Barbers said Ortonio’s testimony reinforced Acosta’s earlier account.
“Hindi siya bonded, hindi siya special disbursing officer, at wala siya dapat kinalaman sa paggamit nitong pondo,” Barbers said of Lachica.
He added that Lachica’s lack of organic employment status with the OVP further raised questions about his authority to handle the funds.
Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun, for his part, said the testimony exposed possible defects in the assignment of responsibilities.
“Doon natin makikita na mayroon talagang pagkakamali sa proseso, lalong-lalo na sa pagtatalaga kung sino iyong may responsibility na mag-disburse,” he said.
He characterized the issue as a real “command responsibility’ problem.” (With a report from Zaldy De Layola/PNA)
