MANILA – House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said the credibility of Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Xylene Mae del Campo remained intact after hours of cross-examination by the defense in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

“The credibility of Ms. Del Campo has not been shaken,” Ridon said at a press conference following the testimony of Del Campo, supervising auditor of the COA-Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (COA-ICFAO).

Ridon said Del Campo stood by key findings concerning the handling and liquidation of confidential funds, including restrictions on the transfer of cash advances and the requirement to establish a connection between confidential activities and the expenses charged to them.

He particularly cited the transfer of confidential fund cash advances to security officers as a key issue.

“The moment that there was a transfer of funds to Mr. Lachica, to Mr. Nolasco, doon po nagsimula ‘yung batayan kung bakit kailangan po itong ma-disallow in audit,” Ridon said.

Former OVP special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta previously testified before a House inquiry that she turned over confidential fund cash to then-Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) commander Col. Raymund Dante Lachica upon Duterte’s instruction.

Former Department of Education (DepEd) SDO Edward Fajarda likewise testified that he turned over confidential fund cash he had withdrawn to then-VPSPG officer Col. Dennis Nolasco for distribution.

Acosta and Fajarda have been subpoenaed to testify before the Senate impeachment court on Aug. 17, 18 and 19.

Prosecution questions link between surveillance, expenses

Ridon said Del Campo also maintained her position that the defense failed to establish a clear connection, or “nexus,” between surveillance activities and the confidential fund expenditures claimed by the OVP.

“Meron silang ginagawa mga surveillance activities or confidential activities pero hindi ho maipakita ‘yung nexus doon sa, ‘okay, ginamitan namin ‘yan ng confidential funds,’” he said.

During cross-examination, Duterte’s counsel Kristine Ferrer presented Protective Intelligence Operations Reports detailing surveillance and security activities conducted during the Vice President’s engagements in the first three quarters of 2023.

The reports cited coordination with police and military personnel, threat assessments, venue surveillance and the deployment of operatives and informants.

Del Campo acknowledged that several of the activities could constitute intelligence or surveillance work. However, she maintained that the reports and certifications submitted by the OVP were insufficient to establish the success of information-gathering or surveillance activities used to justify reward payments.

Ridon also emphasized the distinction between payments for information and rewards.

“Wala tayong debate, sabi po ng COA, doon sa purchase of information. Pero meron pong debate doon sa giving of reward,” he said.

He said the OVP needed to provide details showing the actual results of an activity that warranted payment of a reward.

Prosecution questions use of confidential funds for security

Ridon likewise questioned the use of confidential funds for security activities that he said were already part of the regular functions of the VPSPG.

“So the question therefore is, bakit mo sasalangan ng confidential funds ‘yun?” he said.

He said succeeding prosecution witnesses are expected to address other aspects of the liquidation of the confidential funds, including an examination by the National Bureau of Investigation into alleged similarities among signatures appearing on acknowledgment receipts.

P612.5 million under scrutiny

The alleged misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds forms the basis of Article I of Duterte’s impeachment case.

The OVP received PHP125 million in confidential funds in December 2022 and another PHP125 million in each of the first three quarters of 2023, bringing the total OVP funds under scrutiny to PHP500 million.

Meanwhile, the DepEd received PHP37.5 million in each of the first three quarters of 2023, or a total of PHP112.5 million, during Duterte’s tenure as Education secretary.

The Senate impeachment court is examining the prosecution’s allegations and the defense’s explanations as proceedings continue.