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Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio over the release of P125 million in bulk cash by SDO Gina Acosta to security officer Col. Lachica, saying the arrangement was a violation of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC).

During the close reading of the JMC, Ortonio said he knew that the SDO was the accountable officer authorized to handle the confidential funds and that transferring the funds to Lachica was a violation of the circular. Hontiveros then questioned why the arrangement did not raise concerns for Ortonio.

In response, Ortonio said that based on his understanding, the disbursement was handled by the SDO, while the implementation was carried out through the security office

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Transcript
00:00Sir, nabanggit niyo po na alam ninyo yung Joint Circular on Confidential and Intelligence Funds.
00:08Hindi niyo po ba naisip na violation ang pagbibigay ni Ms. Acosta kay Colonel Lachica ng bulto-bultong cold cash?
00:19Ma'am, based on, because again ma'am, I was not aware of the arrangement ma'am, but when I
00:25was doing the replies ma'am to the AOM
00:29and of course I also checked on the JC, ma'am.
00:35The pagpili po ng mga person to implement the different activities of the confidential activities
00:46and to designate a security officer is indicated also in the JMC and is within the authority of the head
00:56of agency.
00:57So yun po yung pagkakaintinti ko at the time.
01:00So with that ma'am, I saw it that it was the manner of how the funds were handled ma
01:12'am
01:12was following a regular process ma'am based on the JMC, based on my understanding.
01:20But then again, Mr. Ortonio, in closing, yung close reading ng JMC na sabi niyo nga familiar kayo
01:26would show na hiwalay pa sa usapin ng implementation, yung paghawak ng pondo ay dun lamang sa isang katulad ni
01:36Ms. Gina Acosta
01:37at hindi pwedeng ipagkatiwala bilang accountable officer siya.
01:41Hindi pwedeng ipasakamay sa iba.
01:44Ang understanding ko po ma'am, yes, the disbursement is with the special disbursing officer
01:51but the implementation ma'am was done through the security officer.
01:55Of course. Hindi po ko po tinatanong yung implementation.
01:58Tinatanong ko po yung violation ng JMC na alam ninyo
02:02nung tinurnover ni Ms. Gina Acosta ang bulta-bultong cash kay Colonel LaChica.
02:08Something that I simply think should not and could not have escaped your eyes, Mr. Ortonio.
02:16Yes, ma'am.
02:18Again, ma'am, based on the, for the 2022, ma'am, I could not recall that
02:24that was a concern, ma'am, in the AOMs, ma'am.
02:27Although for the 2023, ma'am, na notice for this allowance, ma'am,
02:34it is subject for reply also on our end, ma'am.
02:39And we are currently drafting also a reply for that one.
02:43And of course, given the strict internal controls na siguro kayo yung pinakami oversight sa opisina,
02:49even prior further communications from COA,
02:52after yung unang pagpansin nila sa last quarter 2022,
02:57eh di dapat nag-exert kayo ng higit na pagbantay the next three quarters of 2023.
03:03Ma'am, um...
03:04Kindly wind up, Senator Judge Riza?
03:06Yes, winding up now, Mr. President.
03:08Your Honor, we were able to receive the audit observation memo for 2022
03:14in September, in October 4 of 2023.
03:21So, we got the observations po, ma'am.
03:25We already got the AOM, ma'am,
03:28and yung three quarters for 2023 was already implemented.
03:34Again po, Mr. Ortonio, even prior any further communications from COA,
03:38dahil familiar kayo sa JMC,
03:40sabi nyo nga, dapat alam nyo na po yun.
03:42Nag-ang salamat, Mr. Ortonio.
03:44Thank you, sir.

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