A Special Disbursing Officer (SDO)’s job is not merely ministerial, and the officer may be held accountable for questionable cash disbursements involving public funds entrusted to him or her, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Monday.
Lacson made the point while questioning Office of the Vice President SDO Gina Acosta, who confirmed during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte that there were no official receipts for some P75 million in medical and food expenses for the OVP’s confidential activities.
In Filipino: Lacson Nagpaalala sa SDO ng OVP sa Fiduciary Responsibility: Trabaho ng SDO ay Hindi ‘Ministerial’
“Ministerial ba ang pag-prepare and pagpirma mo sa PFP (physical and financial plan)? Wala kang oversight? Kung ano sabihin ni Col. Lachica, prepare, pirma, approve ng SDO (Is your work as SDO ministerial, where you merely prepare and sign PAPs? Do you exercise oversight or do you just prepare, sign and approve based on what Col. Lachica says)?” Lacson asked in his interjection, referring to Acosta’s role in preparing and signing the PFP.
“Kasi kung ministerial, sabi ko nga kanina opening na tanong ko, ikaw ang may fiduciary responsibility. Kung ministerial ka lang, di mo ginagawa trabaho mo, delikado ka (You must remember you have fiduciary responsibility. If you are merely doing ministerial work, you are not doing your work and you may be held accountable),” he added.
Under questioning by Lacson, Acosta acknowledged that she had fiduciary responsibility. She also said that after encashing the confidential fund checks, she would inform OVP security officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and would release the cash to him. The amounts would vary depending on Lachica’s stated object of expenditures.
She said that in the last quarter of 2022, the entire P125 million she withdrew was released to Lachica. For the first quarter of 2023, she said she released around P80 million or more to him, based on his object of expenditures. She also testified that cash was released to Lachica after subsequent withdrawals in the second and third quarters of 2023.
Lacson also reminded Acosta that she may be held answerable for supplies such as food, furniture and medicines, even if they are to be used in confidential activities.
“Sa pagkaalam ko pag-purchase ng supplies, maski pa gamitin sa confidential activities, kailangan may official receipts, may sales invoices na pirmado ng totoong tao, hindi alias (From what I know, the purchase of supplies like tables, chairs, and medicines even if used for confidential activities must be covered by official receipts and sales invoices signed by real persons, with no aliases),” he said.
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Lacson Nagpaalala sa SDO ng OVP sa Fiduciary Responsibility: Trabaho ng SDO ay Hindi ‘Ministerial’
Binigyang-diin ni Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes na ang tungkulin ng isang Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) ay hindi lamang ministerial at maaari siyang managot sa mga kuwestiyonableng pagpapalabas ng pera na sangkot ang pampublikong pondong ipinagkatiwala sa kanya.
Ginawa ni Lacson ang punto habang tinatanong si Office of the Vice President SDO Gina Acosta, na kinumpirma sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte na walang official receipts para sa mga P75 milyon halaga ng gastusing medikal at pagkain para sa confidential activities ng OVP.
“Ministerial ba ang pag-prepare and pagpirma mo sa PFP (physical and financial plan)? Wala kang oversight? Kung ano sabihin ni Col. Lachica, prepare, pirma, approve ng SDO?” tanong ni Lacson sa kanyang interjection, na tumutukoy sa papel ni Acosta sa paghahanda at pagpirma sa PFP.
“Kasi kung ministerial, sabi ko nga kanina opening na tanong ko, ikaw ang may fiduciary responsibility. Kung ministerial ka lang, di mo ginagawa trabaho mo, delikado ka,” dagdag niya.
Sa pagtatanong ni Lacson, kinilala ni Acosta na may fiduciary responsibility siya. Dagdag niya na matapos i-encash ang mga tseke para sa confidential funds, ipagbibigay-alam niya ito kay OVP security officer Col. Raymund Dante Lachica at ibibigay sa kanya ang pera. Ang halaga ay depende sa object of expenditures na isinumite ni Lachica.
Aniya, noong huling quarter ng 2022, ang buong P125 milyon na kanyang winithdraw ay ibinigay kay Lachica. Para naman sa unang quarter ng 2023, sinabi niyang humigit-kumulang P80 milyon o higit pa ang ibinigay niya kay Lachica, base sa kanyang object of expenditures. Pinatotohanan din niya na naglabas siya ng pera kay Lachica matapos ang mga sumunod na withdrawal noong ikalawa at ikatlong quarters ng 2023.
Ipinaalala rin ni Lacson kay Acosta na maaari siyang managot sa mga pagbili ng supplies gaya ng pagkain, muwebles at gamot, kahit ang mga ito ay gagamitin para sa confidential activities.
“Sa pagkaalam ko pag-purchase ng supplies, maski pa gamitin sa confidential activities, kailangan may official receipts, may sales invoices na pirmado ng totoong tao, hindi alias,” aniya.
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