Manila: Malaca±ang on Tuesday stated that the evidence presented by the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has bolstered the case for her conviction, particularly concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro highlighted testimony from former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer, Gina Acosta. Acosta's testimony illustrated that Duterte exercised control over the disbursement of PHP125 million in confidential funds. During a Palace press briefing, Castro emphasized that physical handling of the funds was not essential to establish accountability. This was underscored by Acosta's assertion that Duterte ordered the release of the entire amount to her security officer, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica.

Castro elaborated that Duterte's ability to command the release of funds through orders underscored her control, even without direct interaction with the money. Furthermore, Castro suggested that Lachica's role in implementing the confidential fund should be scrutinized by the Office of the Ombudsman. She advocated for an impartial agency to ascertain whether there was any wrongdoing or potential conspiracy in the fund's usage.

Castro critiqued Acosta's consistent reliance on Lachica for information regarding the confidential funds, labeling her responses during the trial as scripted. She noted that Acosta's repeated answers to simple questions could appear rehearsed to the Filipino public.

Additionally, Castro raised concerns about the liquidation process of the confidential funds managed by Acosta, pointing to challenges in accounting for the funds. She stressed the importance of properly accounting for confidential funds, as they are still public funds. Castro mentioned that missing documentation could indicate prima facie evidence of personal use.

When questioned about whether the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence for Duterte's conviction, Castro expressed that the Palace believed sufficient evidence had been presented, particularly regarding the impeachment article related to the confidential funds. She indicated that the Palace considered the evidence substantial enough to implicate both the Vice President and Col. Lachica in controlling the funds for confidential purposes.