Lachica not an OVP employee despite role in confidential fund activities – Ortonio

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 27, 2026

Photo courtesy: Senate of the Philippines facebook Page

Manila, Philippines – Col. Raymund Lachica, the former head of Vice President Sara Duterte’s security group, had no employment status with the Office of the Vice President despite being tasked to implement activities funded by the OVP’s confidential funds, an OVP official testified Wednesday, August 26.

OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio made the disclosure during the 19th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, as senator-judges continued examining the handling of the office’s confidential funds.

“He does not have any employment status in the Office of the Vice President,” Ortonio told Senator-judge Tito Sotto when asked about Lachica’s connection to the OVP.

Despite this, Ortonio said he relied on information provided by Lachica when preparing the OVP’s responses to the Commission on Audit (COA).

Ortonio explained that he trusted Lachica because the security officer had been designated by Duterte to implement the activities.

“I believe, sir, na siya ‘yung the best person that can provide the information,” Ortonio said during the interpellation of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, adding that Duterte’s designation of Lachica gave him reason to place “trust and confidence” in the security officer.

Both Ortonio and former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta have testified that Lachica implemented activities funded by the OVP’s confidential funds, even though he was not the special disbursing officer accountable for the money.

The two officials also said they did not question Lachica about the details of the activities because of their confidential nature.

COA had earlier flagged millions of pesos in OVP confidential fund expenditures categorized as rewards.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo questioned Ortonio about amounts allegedly given to individual informants for medicine, including ₱50,000, ₱170,000 and ₱200,000.

Tulfo questioned why such large amounts would be needed for medicine and asked whether the informants had serious illnesses.

Ortonio said he had no personal knowledge of the informants’ medical conditions or whether the money was actually used to buy medicine. He said there were no official receipts for the purchases, only acknowledgment receipts.

He also testified that he did not question Lachica about the matter.

Ortonio’s testimony came as the Senate impeachment court continued deliberations on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which involves allegations of misuse of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education.