The Impeachment Court trying the case of Vice President Sara Duterte would benefit from hearing a competent witness on the handling of confidential and intelligence funds, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson noted that the evidence presented at Wednesday’s hearing appeared to show quarterly cash withdrawals by the Office of the Vice President, while his experience in intelligence and law enforcement suggested that such withdrawals are generally made only when operationally necessary.
“I’m wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential funds. Kasi po in my previous life sa intelligence, sa law enforcement, ang natatandaan ko kasi limited ang purpose ng intelligence at confidential fund. Nagtataka ako, nakita ko ang regularity ng withdrawals ng cash parang every quarter except for Dec. 20 (I’m wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential funds. In my previous life in intelligence and law enforcement, intelligence and confidential funds are limited. And I wonder why cash withdrawals are made regularly, every quarter except for Dec. 20),” he said in his manifestation.
In Filipino: Lacson: ‘Competent Witness’ sa Pangangasiwa ng Confidential at Intelligence Funds, Makabubuti sa VP Impeachment Trial
“Sana kung para ma-educate kami at magkaroon kami ng informed decision later on, sana meron tayong competent witness sa pag-handle ng intelligence fund or confidential fund para nang sa ganoon naman ma-appreciate namin at matanong din namin sarili namin, (normal or even) regular ba yung every quarter (I hope we would be educated and have an informed decision later on, if a competent witness in the handling of confidential and intelligence funds would testify. We would appreciate their insights and ask ourselves, is the disbursement of such funds every quarter considered normal, even regular)?” he added.
He said that after checking with his staff, he found no such competent witness listed by either the prosecution or defense.
When House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua indicated that their witness is from the Commission on Audit (COA), Lacson said someone from COA may not necessarily qualify as competent in the operational handling of such funds.
“Somebody like a retired intelligence officer, somebody like that na maalam mag-handle (Somebody like a retired intelligence officer who knows how to handle such funds),” he said.
Lacson said having someone with firsthand experience in administering such funds would help educate the senator-judges and guide them in reaching an informed decision later on.
Drawing from his experience in the Philippine Constabulary and Philippine National Police, he said intelligence funds are generally disbursed only when there are intelligence-gathering or confidential activities that require them.
“Ang alam ko pagka may pangangailangan dahil may intelligence-gathering operation, may confidential activities, saka pa lang mangangailangan ng pera (From what I know, such funds are requested and disbursed only when there are intelligence-gathering operations or confidential activities),” he said.
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Lacson: ‘Competent Witness’ sa Pangangasiwa ng Confidential at Intelligence Funds, Makabubuti sa VP Impeachment Trial
Makabubuti sa Impeachment Court na dumidinig sa kaso ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang pagharap ng isang testigong maalam sa pangangasiwa ng confidential at intelligence funds, ayon kay Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules.
Ani Lacson, ang mga ebidensyang iniharap sa pagdinig nitong Miyerkules ay tila nagpapakita ng regular na quarterly cash withdrawals ng Office of the Vice President, samantalang batay sa kanyang karanasan sa intelligence at law enforcement, ang ganitong mga withdrawal ay karaniwang ginagawa lamang kapag may pangangailangang operasyonal.
“I’m wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential funds. Kasi po in my previous life sa intelligence, sa law enforcement, ang natatandaan ko kasi limited ang purpose ng intelligence at confidential fund. Nagtataka ako, nakita ko ang regularity ng withdrawals ng cash parang every quarter except for Dec. 20,” aniya sa kanyang manifestation.
“Sana kung para ma-educate kami at magkaroon kami ng informed decision later on, sana meron tayong competent witness sa pag-handle ng intelligence fund or confidential fund para nang sa ganoon naman ma-appreciate namin at matanong din namin sarili namin, (normal or even) regular ba yung every quarter?” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Lacson na nang tanungin niya ang kanyang staff, nalaman niyang wala sa listahan ng mga testigo ng prosekusyon o depensa ang sinumang competent witness sa naturang larangan.
Nang sabihin ng House prosecutor na si Rep. Joel Chua na ang kanilang testigo ay mula sa Commission on Audit (COA), sinabi ni Lacson na hindi naman nangangahulugang maalam ang taga-COA sa operasyonal na pangangasiwa ng naturang mga pondo.
“Somebody like a retired intelligence officer, somebody like that na maalam mag-handle,” aniya.
Sinabi ni Lacson na ang isang taong may mismong karanasan sa pangangasiwa ng naturang mga pondo ay makatutulong sa mga senator-judge upang higit nilang maunawaan ang isyu at makagawa ng mas maalam na pagpapasya.
Batay sa kanyang karanasan sa Philippine Constabulary at Philippine National Police, sinabi ni Lacson na ang intelligence funds ay karaniwang inilalabas lamang kapag may intelligence-gathering operations o confidential activities na nangangailangan nito.
“Ang alam ko pagka may pangangailangan dahil may intelligence-gathering operation, may confidential activities, saka pa lang mangangailangan ng pera,” aniya.
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