By Dhel Nazario
Senator‑judge Lito Lapid, long known as one of the quieter figures in the Senate, broke character on Monday, Aug. 24, as he pressed former special disbursing officer Gina Acosta over the handling of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds.
Lapid, who once quipped about belonging to a “Committee on Silence,” zeroed in on the ₱125‑million tranches released to former OVP security officer Col. Raymund Lachica.
Following up on Senator Panfilo Lacson’s line of questioning, Lapid asked Acosta where the remaining ₱45 million went after she allegedly handed ₱80 million to Lachica from the second tranche.
“Sa aming vault pa po iyon, Your Honor,” Acosta replied, explaining that the funds were stored until Lachica submitted a utilization report and supporting documents.
Lapid pressed further, asking whether Vice President Sara Duterte ever saw the bags of cash Acosta withdrew from the bank, and why she trusted Lachica to manage such sensitive funds.
Acosta admitted she did not know if Lachica had his own intelligence funds and said she relied on documents he submitted as OVP security officer.
The senator also drew attention to unusual names in the liquidation papers, including “Mary Grace Piattos” and two individuals surnamed Lapid.
He joked that he would be grateful if the “Lapid” entries turned out to be relatives, recalling his father’s belief that anyone sharing the surname was family.
