Vice President Sara Z. Duterte knew, authorized, and supervised the handling of confidential funds from their request to liquidation, her longtime aide testified on Tuesday, bolstering the House prosecution’s impeachment charge alleging misuse of PHP612.5 million in public funds.

Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio testified specifically on the PHP500-million confidential fund released to the OVP as the prosecution’s second hostile witness after former special disbursing officer Gina Acosta.

Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero asked Ortonio whether the request, release, encashment, spending, and liquidation of the OVP funds, as well as responses to audit findings, were known to and authorized by Duterte and under her supervision.

“Based on my understanding, sir, and based on what I know, sir, yes, the Vice President knows about the confidential activities and how it is being implemented,” Ortonio replied.

Escudero then asked whether Ortonio had done anything involving the funds, including responding to audit findings, without Duterte’s knowledge or authorization.

“None, Your Honor,” Ortonio said.

“Lahat alam niya, in-authorize niya (She knew everything and authorized it)?” Escudero followed up.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Ortonio replied.

The exchange capped House prosecution private counsel Mae Divinagracia’s direct examination that traced Duterte’s role in the OVP funds.

Among other things, Ortonio confirmed that the OVP had no confidential fund allocation when Duterte assumed office in July 2022, with its records showing none under her predecessor, former Vice President Leni Robredo.

Less than two months later, Duterte signed an Aug. 22, 2022 letter seeking PHP250 million in confidential funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“The determination for the amount is in the discretion of the Vice President,” Ortonio testified.

Unlike three other funding requests in the same letter, the confidential fund request had no computation, projection, Physical and Financial Plan (PFP), or supporting attachment, he confirmed.

The PFP was prepared and approved by Duterte on Sept. 16, 2022 after the DBM sought supporting documents, and was transmitted three days later.

The OVP eventually received PHP125 million in December 2022, followed by three more PHP125 million tranches in 2023.

Ortonio testified that he signed the disbursement vouchers as Duterte’s authorized representative, and confirmed that without approval, no funds could have been released.

Duterte herself signed the portion of the vouchers certifying that the expenses or cash advances were necessary, lawful, and incurred under her direct supervision.

Ortonio also signed the four checks and accompanied Acosta when they were encashed.

He also confirmed Duterte’s signatures on the liquidation reports.

His testimony also highlighted patterns in accomplishment reports questioned by prosecutors.

Ortonio confirmed that PHP16 million was reported for safe house rental and maintenance over 11 days in 2022, the same amount reported over 52 days in the first quarter of 2023 and 67 days in the second quarter.

The first three reports also listed PHP40 million, PHP42 million, and PHP40 million for medical and food aid.

Divinagracia noted that category disappeared from the third-quarter report submitted five days after the OVP received its first audit observation memorandum, but the reported total remained exactly PHP125 million.

Ortonio further testified that Duterte instructed him to prepare responses to audit observation memoranda and coordinate with Acosta and the security officer for information needed in the replies.

Divinagracia sought to characterize Duterte as the “architect” of the confidential fund operations, but Escudero sustained the defense objection.

Escudero instead framed his questions around Duterte’s knowledge, authorization, and supervision, drawing Ortonio’s affirmative answers.

Ortonio, however, said he had no personal knowledge when asked whether Acosta or Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica undertook actions involving the funds without Duterte’s knowledge or authorization.

The prosecution is presenting Ortonio’s testimony as part of its evidence on the alleged misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds, comprising PHP500 million released to the OVP and PHP112.5 million to the Department of Education. (PNA)