Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Jaehwa Bernardo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178753962765020260817-senate-impeachment-gina-acosta-MT8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Gina Acosta takes her oath as a hostile witness for the prosecution during the 16th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, August 17, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment case raised Monday questions about the confidential funds allocated to Davao City when she headed the southern city, but her staff claimed to have no recollection of the amount of the funds.</p><p>This came as prosecution lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan continued his direct examination of Gina Acosta, a staff member at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) who previously served as the office&#x27;s special disbursing officer (SDO) for confidential funds.</p><p>Acosta, who was declared a hostile witness due to her adverse interest against the prosecution, also served as SDO for Duterte’s confidential funds when she was mayor of Davao City from 2019 to 2022.</p><p>During his questioning, Ligutan asked Acosta if Davao City had received P460 million in confidential funds in 2019.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ko maalala (I don&#x27;t remember),&quot; Acosta said in response before the Senate impeachment court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/who-is-prosecution-s-first-hostile-witness-gina-acosta-1242"><strong>READ: Who is prosecution’s first ‘hostile witness’ Gina Acosta?<br/></strong></a></div><p>When Ligutan asked how much was allocated to Davao City, Acosta reiterated that she could not remember, saying it had been years since the allocation was made and that she had become forgetful with age.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ko maalala, Your Honor, tagal naman kasi &#x27;yon, Your Honor, tapos may edad na po ako, Your Honor,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787539462732Screenshot 2026-08-24 102442.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Screenshot from ABS-CBN News on YouTube</em></span></span></span></div><p>Ligutan&#x27;s presentation, which featured a graphic from a news website, showed that Davao City had received P460 million in confidential funds annually from 2019 to 2022.</p><p>When Ligutan asked Acosta if the city had indeed received another P460 million in 2022 — just four years ago, before Duterte was elected vice president and transferred to the OVP with Acosta — the witness once again said she could no longer remember.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/wrap-confidential-funds-released-to-ovp-security-chief-as-duterte-ordered-acosta-2027"><strong>READ: Confidential funds released to OVP security chief as Duterte ordered — Acosta<br/></strong></a></div><p>Ligutan also noted that adding the P460 million annual allocation from 2019 to 2022 would bring the total to nearly P2 billion. When he asked if Acosta could not remember the total either, she said she could not, prompting Ligutan to move on and resume discussing the OVP&#x27;s confidential funds.</p><p>The impeachment court is currently hearing allegations that Duterte misused confidential funds of the OVP and the Department of Education, which she previously headed.</p><p>The allegations are among four charges against her in the impeachment case. Duterte and her camp have denied the accusations in the trial.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dDibo0fqwrw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case raised Monday questions about the confidential funds allocated to Davao City when she headed the southern city, but her staff claimed to have no recollection of the amount of the funds.</p>

The prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case raised Monday questions about the confidential funds allocated to Davao City when she headed the southern city, but her staff claimed to have no recollection of the amount of the funds.

OVP's Acosta grilled on Davao City confidential funds

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

OVP's Acosta grilled on Davao City confidential funds

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 24, 2026 11:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte impeachment trial

confidential funds

Gina Acosta

Amando Virgil Ligutan

Davao City

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.