Manila: The House prosecution on Wednesday described the testimonies of two former Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) branch managers as just an "appetizer" in its effort to prove that Vice President Sara Duterte committed betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution through the alleged misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor emphasized the significance of the prosecution's first two witnesses, both experienced bank managers, who independently characterized the confidential fund transactions as unusual. Defensor noted, "Unusual is only an appetizer," highlighting that this is the perfect start for the prosecution regarding confidential funds.
During the hearing, retired LandBank Shaw Boulevard branch manager Violeta Constantino testified about the encashment of four Office of the Vice President (OVP) checks totaling PHP500 million. The prosecution outlined that these checks were dated Dec. 20, 2022, Jan. 31, April 18, and July 13, 2023. They were funded by the National Treasury, credited to the OVP's account, and encashed by Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta on Dec. 20, 2022, Feb. 6, April 25, and July 14, 2023.
Former LandBank-DepEd branch manager Nenita Camposano also testified on the encashment of three Department of Education (DepEd) checks totaling PHP112.5 million. Duterte previously served as DepEd Secretary. The prosecution stated that these checks, each worth PHP37.5 million, were dated Feb. 20, April 19, and July 11, 2023. They were funded by the National Treasury, credited to the DepEd Office of the Secretary's account, and encashed by Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda on Feb. 22, April 26, and July 13, 2023.
Both witnesses informed the impeachment court that the transactions were unusual due to the large amounts involved and because clients typically did not encash checks of that magnitude in cash. Defensor asserted that the testimonies established early on that the handling of the PHP612.5 million in confidential funds was notable even to seasoned banking professionals.
House trial spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur remarked that the unusual nature of the transactions extended beyond the amounts involved, highlighting issues with how the funds were encashed and utilized. He pointed out that, unlike ordinary government disbursements, the confidential funds were converted into cash through the encashment of Treasury checks after prior coordination with the bank.
Adiong also noted a discernible pattern in the transactions, suggesting a calendar-like regularity. Both Constantino and Camposano testified that OVP and DepEd officials coordinated with their respective LandBank branches before presenting the checks for encashment to ensure sufficient cash was available. The checks were consistently encashed in fixed amounts-PHP125 million for each of the four OVP transactions and PHP37.5 million for each of the three DepEd transactions.
Referring to questions raised during the hearing by Senator-Judge Panfilo Lacson, Adiong mentioned that legitimate intelligence operations are usually dictated by operational requirements and are not carried out according to a fixed schedule. He stated that the advance coordination with the bank, along with the regular timing and fixed amounts of the encashments, suggested a pattern rather than transactions driven by operational necessity.
