Duterte order on P125M confidential funds key evidence – Rep. Terry Ridon

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 24, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

MANILA, Philippines — House impeachment prosecutor Terry Ridon said Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged instruction to turn over P125 million in confidential funds to a security officer was a key piece of evidence in the case against her.

Ridon cited the testimony of Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, who said Duterte personally instructed her to hand the funds to then-OVP security officer Col. Raymund Lachica.

Ridon described the instruction as the “original sin” in the alleged misuse of confidential funds, saying it marked the start of the questioned handling of the money.

According to Ridon, the transfer later led to acknowledgment receipts bearing names such as Mary Grace Piattos and Milky Secuya.

Acosta also testified that handling confidential funds was not part of a security officer’s official duties. She said she could not identify any provision in the rules governing confidential and intelligence funds that allowed such an arrangement.

Ridon said prosecutors have not yet decided whether to call Lachica as a hostile witness.

The Senate impeachment court also reported discrepancies in the acknowledgment receipts submitted by both sides. Of the prosecution’s 4,492 receipts, 3,616 matched documents submitted by the defense, while 876 had no corresponding match.

The prosecution maintains that Acosta’s testimony directly connects Duterte to the transfer of the confidential funds.