July 29, 2026

Sergeant-at-Arms is directed to make a proclamation.

All persons are commanded to keep silent under pain of penalty while the Impeachment Court is in session for the trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte.

Let's pause for a minute of silent prayer.

Amen. The Clerk of Court will now call the roll.

Roll call of members, the Honorable Senator Judge Aquino. Senator Judge Cayetano Allan. Senator Judge Cayetano Pia. Senator Judge De La Rosa. Senator Judge Ejercito. Senator Judge Estrada. Senator Judge Goh. Senator Judge Ontiveros. Senator Judge Lacson. Senator Judge Lapid. Senator Judge Legarda. Senator Judge Marcoleta. Senator Judge Marcos. Senator Judge Padilla. Senator Judge Pangilinan. Senator Judge Soto III. Setor Judge Tulfo Erwin. Setor Judge Tulfo Rafi. Setor Judge Villanueva. Setor Judge Villar Camil. Setor Judge Villar Mark. Setor Judge Zubiri. The presiding officer, Setor Judge Escudero. Senate President Gachalian. With

14 center judges present, the chair declares the presence of a quorum. In accordance with the rules of procedure on impeachment trials, the chair now recognizes the duly elected presiding officer to preside. over the proceedings of the impeachment court.

Thank you, Mr. Senate President. Magandang maga po sa ating lahat. If there are no objections, the Chair shall dispense with the reading of the Journal of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court dated July 22, 2026 and shall consider the same as approved.

The Clerk of Court will please call the case before the impeachment court.

Case number 004-2026 in the matter of impeachment trial of Vice President Zara Zimmerman Duterte.

Appearances?

Good morning, Your Honor. Respectfully appearing for the prosecution, we are ready, Your Honor, for the presentation of our initial witnesses for Article 1, that is confidential fund misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation.

Good morning. Appearances for the respondent?

Good morning, Your Honor. Same appearances for the respondent

accused.

Good morning as well. Will the lead prosecutor kindly call their first witness for this morning?

Your Honor, may I request that the head prosecutor of Article 1 Confidential Fund, the Honorable Joel Chua, be recognized, Your Honor.

The Honorable Chua, a member of the panel of prosecutors, is recognized to call their first witness to the stand.

Good morning, Your Honor.

Your Honor, same appearance for the prosecution. Your Honor, may we be given a five-minute opening statement. May we request... Representative Laila de Lima to be recognized by the Chair, Your Honor.

The Chair would like to remind the Honorable de Lima if indeed she will make an opening statement to kindly avoid conclusions of both fact and law as we have previously agreed upon and raised by the defense in previous hearings and as pointed out by several Senator judges. With that conditionality, the Honorable de Lima may proceed with

her opening statement. Your Honor, may we comment on that matter?

Yes, what is the pleasure of Attorney

Paul? Your Honor, I'd like to apologize for having to comment on this matter, but as far as I recall, the presiding officer already made a ruling before against opening statements, Your Honors.

Again, I will be very conscious, Honorable Delima, with respect to statements of fact and law that are not coming out from the mouth of any witnesses you will be presenting. So kindly...

Be precise and short with respect to your opening statements. You may proceed, ma'am, subject to those reminders.

Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer. This is about five minutes or a little more than five minutes. Mr. Senate President, Mr. Presiding Officer, Honorable Senator Judges, mga kababayan, magandang umaga po. Sa ating pagbabudget para sa pamilya, Dahil hindi naman only ang pera, masinop ang ating paggasta sa talagang kailangan at kapagipaginabang natin nilalaan. Ganyan din dapat sa pondo ng bayan. Sa yugtong ito ng paglilitis, pagbuusapan natin ang confidential funds. Ito ang budget para sa mga sensitibo at surveillance-related activities upang suportahan ang mandato ng mga civilian agencies. That a budget is intended for confidential operations does not mean that the conduct of the officials involved in the handling of people's money is exempted from the demands of transparency, scrutiny, and accountability. Public office is a public trust. Yan ang sabi ng Constitution. Sakop nito ang lahat na nasa gobyerno. At ang utos na yan ay hindi pwedeng... Balawalain dahil confidential lang o confidential ang pondo. Ang confidentiality ay para potektahan ang legitimate operasyon at informant. Hindi ito pa hintulot para mag-imbento ng pangalan at dokumento. Hindi ito pa lusot para ibulsa ang pera. Kung confidential ang pondo, lalo pa nga mataas ang pananagutang kaagibat nito. The Constitution entrusts this court with the solemn duty to determine whether the responded Vice President committed culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. The evidence will show that she did. This case, Article 1, is about 612.5 million in confidential funds entrusted to VP Sara Duterte. through the Office of the President and the Department of Education. This is not about one missing receipt. This is not about a clerical error or accounting mistake. The evidence will reveal a pattern, a systemic course of conduct that, taken as a whole, demonstrates graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.

With the permission of the Honorable Dilema,

Yes, Counsel for Respondent.

Again, Your Honors, I think we have to object to the statements being made by the Honorable Dilema with all due respect, of course. Your Honors, they can do that through the offer of their evidence, Your Honor.

Chair will instruct

the Honorable Delima to kindly limit her statements. I was listening intently in the beginning. It was okay, Honorable Delima. But later on, you did make conclusions of law already, which the Chair orders to be stricken from the record. You may wind up, Honorable Delima, but kindly avoid conclusions of fact and law. Your Honors, please. If I may just be given

just

a

few seconds. Your Honors, ang naging problema natin noong huling pagkakataon na pinayagan natin yung ganitong statement, At nasabi na nga ng presiding officer is kahit naman i-strike off the record natin, e narinig na po at nasabi na. So to allow your honors, again, a continuation of such, this really goes into the matter of fair play, Your Honor.

Honorable Delima, kindly wind up. Again, you were forewarned beforehand to kindly limit your statements. Hence, you are faced again with a similar situation. Kindly wind up, Honorable Delima, and call your witness.

Ang dami pong...

malalampasan sa aking opening statement because

this is supposed to be an overview of the

case, the overview of the evidence. To

let the witnesses speak, not the counsels insofar as the evidence is concerned or conclusions of both fact and law. Kindly wind up, Honorable Lima.

I

submit,

Your Honor. And so I will wind up.

Kapag ang isang impeachable officer tulad ng pangalawang Pangulo ay nabuso ang kapangyarihan sa paraang sumisira sa accountability, Kung sumusubay sa pananagutan, dapat pa ba siyang pagkatiwalaan? Dapat pa ba siyang manatili sa pwesto? When the Filipino people entrusted their money to Vice President Sara Duterte, was that trust honored? That question will not be answered by politics, by general denials, by press releases. It will be answered by the witnesses, by the documents, by audit, and by the evidence and the prosecution. is ready to present it. Sa kabuuan ng ebidensya, makita ang hindi lang mga simpleng irregularidad na nangyari. Malinaw ito.

I

would have to stop you at this point. The continuing objection of the respondent is duly noted. I would have to stop you at this point. My

due apologies,

but kindly call your witness already.

Thank you, Your Honors. I submit. Thank you very much.

Kindly call your witness, Representative Chua.

Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor, we are going to present our first witness in the person of Ms. Violeta Constantino.

The Clerk of Court, through the Sergeant-at-Arms, is instructed to situate Ms. Violeta Constantino to the witness stand.

Kindly remain standing, ma'am. Clerk of Court is directed to administer the oath to the witness.

Please raise your right hand, ma'am. You, Violeta Constantino, to swear. that the evidence you shall give in the case now pending between the Philippines and Vice President Sarah Zimmerman Duterte shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God.

Kindly be seated, ma'am.

May I proceed, Your Honor?

You may proceed, Council, when

you're ready. Your Honor, we are offering the testimony of Ms. Violeta Constantino to prove the following.

Una, na si Ms. Constantino ay isang reteradong Department Manager ng Land Bank of the Philippines Show Bolivar Branch from May 2017 to January 2024.

Pangalawa, na

ang Land Bank of the Philippines Show Bolivar Branch ang nagproseso ng encashment ng apat na cheque

Payable sa isang Gina F. Acosta sa halagang 125 million each. Sa mga sumusunod na cheque. Una, Land Bank Check Number 0000244027 na may petsang December 20, 2022. Ikalawa, Land Bank. Check number 0000244053 na may pet siyang January 31, 2023.

Ikatlo, land bank check number 0000245511 na may pet siyang April 18, 2023. At ikapat, land bank check number 0000245664 na may pechang July 13, 2023.

Katlo, na ang mga nasabing cheque ay lahat pinunduhan ng Philippine Treasury at nilipat sa account. ng Office of the Vice President.

Kaapat, na ang apat na nasabing cheque ay personal na in-encash ng isang Ms. Gina F. Acosta bilang SDO o Special Disbursing Officer ng Office of the Vice President noong December 20, 2022.

February 6, 2023, April 25, 2023, at July 14, 2023.

Ikalima,

bilang Department Manager ng Land Bank Show Boulevard Branch, si Ms. Constantino ay personal na nakasaksi at nag-oversee ng pag-encash, At pagtanggap ng pera mula sa cheque ni Ms. Acosta.

Ito yung panghuli.

Kaanim, iba pang mga bagay-bagay na may kinalaman dito sa impeachment case in relation to Article 1 on confidential funds and in relation to the aforementioned purposes, Your Honor.

Before the comment, what is the third purpose for the offer again?

Your Honor, that all were funded by the Philippine Treasury and drawn against the account of the Office of the Vice President.

Thank you. Comment from the Council of Respondents?

Subject to cross, Your Honor.

May we proceed now, Your Honor?

You may proceed when you're ready.

Madam

Witness, handa

na po ba kayo?

Naswear na ba?

Madam

Witness, para lang tayo nag-uusap, kaya relax lang po kayo.

Bilang preliminary matters, Madam Witness, pwede po ba kami po ay interesado? Ano po ang inyong pangalan at iba pang mga personal na detalya?

Ako po si Violeta Constantino, retired employee of the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Okay.

Sabi po ninyo, kayo ay retired employee ng Land Bank of the Philippines. Madam Witness, gaano po kayo katagal na nagtrabaho sa Land Bank? of the Philippines bilang isang empleyado.

At trabaho po ako sa Land Bank for 32 years na po.

Okay. So, bago po ang inyong retirement, ano po ang inyong naging posisyon sa Land Bank kung meron man?

Ako po ang department manager po sa Land Bank Show Boulevard branch.

Okay. Sabi ninyo, kayo ay isang department manager ng Land Bank Show Boulevard. Madam Witness, ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng department manager?

Ang department manager po ay kagaya rin po ito ng isang branch manager ng isang bank po po.

Okay. So parang branch manager din po. Ngayon, bilang department manager, Madam Witness, ang tanong ko po sa inyo, ano po ba ang inyong functions and responsibilities?

Ang main function ko po as a

branch manager, ako po ang nag-oversee sa lahat ng transactions po ng branch. Particularly po sa opening ng accounts, deposits, encashments, withdrawals. Kasama na rin po dito yung pagmamarketing po and other administrative functions.

Okay. Now kanina, Madam Witness, sabi mo kayo ay department manager. sa Show Boulevard Branch. Now, ang tanong ko po, kailan po kayo nagsimula maging Department Manager ng Show Boulevard Branch? Kailan hanggang kailan po? Kung maalala po ninyo.

Nag-start po ako sa Land Bank Show Boulevard Branch noong May 2017 until po nung mag-retire ako noong January 2024.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, nandito po ngayon kayo sa Impeachment Court. Ang tanong ko po sa inyo, bakit po kayo nandito ngayong araw na ito dito sa impeachment court kung alam po ninyo?

Nandito po ako sa araw na ito dahil po nakareceive po ako ng subpoena from the Honorable Impeachment Court to testify po yung knowledge ko regarding po doon sa impeachment trial po ngayon ni BP Sarad 30.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, ano naman po ang kinalaman ninyo? Sa impeachment trial ni B.P. Sara Duterte, kung meron man po.

Tungkol po ito sa apat na cheque po ng OVP na in-encash po sa Landbang Showbilly Bard nung ako po ay branch manager.

Okay. Ngayon, binanggit po ninyo apat na cheque. Ano po itong apat na cheque ang binabanggit po ninyo?

Yung apat na cheque po ito ay nakapangalam po kay Ms. Gina F. Acosta. na may amount po 125 million each.

Okay. Madam Witness, bakit naman po kayo pamilyar dito po sa apat na cheque na binabanggit po ninyo?

Pamilyar po ako dito kasi ako po yung nag-oversee ng encashment na ito nung ako po ay branch manager po ng show boulevard branch.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, kung ipakikita po sa inyo itong apat na cheque na in-encash po ninyo sa show boulevard branch sa

Pag ipakikita po ito sa inyo, itong kopyang ito, ma-identify po ba ninyo ito?

Opo.

Okay. Madam Witness.

Your Honor.

Yes, Counsel for Responder, Attorney Paul. What is your pleasure?

Just to expedite the proceedings, Your Honor, we are willing to stipulate that the witness has the ability to identify these checks.

Okay.

Has the ability to identify the checks. And we are also not questioning the authenticity of such checks, Your Honor.

For the reference of the Senator judges, you're referring, Attorney Poa, to the four checks which are common exhibits of

both parties. That is correct, Your Honor.

Can we, just to confirm, Clerk of Court is directed to kindly show on the screen the Checks being stipulated to and admitted by the respondent. It should be exhibit

P128 to P128A1 for the prosecution and exhibit D1130 and D1130OVP1. Is that it?

That is correct, Your Honor.

So this is one of the checks?

Yes,

Your Honor.

Kindly also show the other exhibits that the respondent is stipulating to so that the senator judges can catch up.

Given that the respondent stipulated to the aforementioned checks for 125 million each dated December 20, 2022, January 31, 2023, April

18, 2023, and July 13, 2023, correct?

That's correct,

Your Honor.

Will you also stipulate, Counsel for Respondent, that these checks were encashed as well?

Yes, Your Honor. And that these checks were from the Treasury of the Philippines and the payee was Gina Acosta, Your Honor.

So

that

these checks are authentic, that these checks were encashed by Gina Acosta, that these checks cover the face value of 125 million each. encashed on the dates mentioned by the respondent and that it was encashed by Gina Acosta. As

SDO, Your Honor.

As SDO.

Given that the counsel for respondent has stipulated and so admitted these facts, counsel from the panel of prosecutors kindly proceed with the other items given the stipulation by the counsel for respondent. There is no need for the witness to testify in these matters anymore. Thank you, counsel

for respondent.

Your Honor, Madam

Witness, dahil po yung harap ng cheque ay inadmit na po ng ating defense, pupunta po tayo dun sa baba. Meron po akong nakikita dito sa screen na image na nakalagay po sa baba at ito po ay

nakamarka bilang exhibit.

P-R1-28-A-1 Madam Witness, ano po itong imahe na nakikita po natin sa baba?

Kung alam po ninyo.

Sir, pwede po ba ako makahingi ng... Your Honor,

Your Honor, may we request...

Assisting counsel is authorized to approach the witness as well as assisting counsel from the respondent.

Your Honor,

my

assisting counsel, Atty.

Christina Pasicolan, will approach the witness. The

clerk is instructed to kindly magnify the sub-marking being alluded to by the counsel from the panel of prosecutors. Yung nasa baba

po. Nami-marka po na binanggit ko pong exhibit.

Okay, ulit po, please.

Dito po sa cheque, dito po sa screen natin, meron pong imahe. At meron po ditong nakamarkang exhibit P-1, Roman numeral 1-28-A-1. Ano po itong imahe na ito, kung alam po ninyo?

Iyon po bang certified draw copy po?

Check. Huwag po kayong tumingin dito sa screen. Yan po sa, yung MI po. Yan po.

Doon po sa isang malaking box.

Yung malaking. Ano po yan?

Ito po yung mga firma po ng mga empleyado ko po noong time na na-encash po yung cheque.

Okay. Nasaan po yan? Saan bahagi po ng cheque yan?

Doon po sa three boxes. Madam

witness, pwede pong pakilapit po yung inyong pakilapit po sa mic. Yung para marinig po tayo. Yan. Yan pong imahe dyan po sa baba po ng, di ba yung taas po. Yan po yung harap ng cheque. Ano po yung imahe na nasa baba? Ano po yan?

Bali po, ito po yung signature verified by po ang nakalagay. Apirma po ito ng aming verifier.

Okay. Saan po nakalagay yan? Sa may? Sa

upper ano po.

Sa dorsal. Sa dorsal side ng cheque. Okay. Now, Madam Witness, dito po sa box na ito, mayroon ditong tatlong maliliit na box. Pwede po bang ma-request yung box na ito na medyo palakihan at i-zoom po? I-zoom po, papalapit.

Yan.

Pwede po bang pataas? Pataas. Paharap. Parotate po. Pakirotate po. Pakirotate.

Medyo mahirap kong tignan. Pwede po bang pakirotate sa tech?

Hindi

pwede? Ay, hindi pwede. Okay. Madam Witness, hindi daw po po pwede. Now, Madam Witness, dito po, ayun. Okay. Now Madam Witness, dito po sa box na malaking ito, meron po ditong tatlong box na napansin ko. Doon po sa bandang kaliwa, na unang box, may nakalagay po dito, Signature Verified By. At sa baba po neto, meron pong mukhang pirma. Now Madam Witness, ang tanong ko po sa inyo, kaninong pirma po ito kung alam po ninyo?

Ang pirma po ito ay kay verifier po ng branch.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, pag pumirma ang verifier dito sa box na ito, sa signature verified by, ano po ang ibig sabihin ito?

Ang ibig sabihin po ng signature ng verifier ay na-verify niya po yung identity ng payee base po sa kanyang ID na pisinta. At

the same time po, na-check niya rin po sa system na ito po ay may advice na galing po sa Office of the Vice President na pwede na po i-release.

Okay. Now, upunta po tayo sa susunod na box na may nakalagay po ditong posted by. At meron din po ditong mukhang pirma. Now, Madam Witness, ang tanong ko po sa inyo, aninong pirma po itong nakalagay sa posted by? Kung alam po ninyo.

Ang nakapirma po sa posted by ay kay Teller po.

Okay. So, Madam Witness, pag pumirma ang isang Teller dito sa box na ito kung saan nakalagay ay posted by, ano po ang ibig sabihin ng kanyang pirma? Kung mahalala po ninyo.

Ang pirma po ni Teller, ang ibig sabihin po nito ay na-encode na po niya sa system ang lahat po ng detalya din ng cheque.

Okay. Now, pupunta na po tayo. Sa ikatlong box na may nakalagay pong approved by at mayroon din po ditong mukhang perma. Now, Madam Witness, kanino naman pong perma ito? Kung kilala po ninyo.

Perma po ito ng aming approver.

Okay. Pag pumirma po ang approver dito po sa box na ito, ano po ang ibig sabihin ng kanyang perma?

Ang ibig sabihin po ng firma ng approver ay nakita niya po na ang pag-processo ng pag-verify po sa cheque ay dumaan po sa tamang proseso at ito po ay pwede na po i-encash.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, bakit po kayo pamilyar dito sa tatlong firma na binugit po ninyo?

Sila po yung aking mga staff nung ako po ay nasa Luanbang Show Boulevard. Ako po yung branch manager.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness.

Ang susunod ko pong tanong sa inyo, kailan po na-encash itong checking ito?

Kung maalala po ninyo.

As shown po dito sa dokumento na ito, ito po ay na-encash ng 20 December 2022.

Okay.

Now, sabi po ninyo, as shown dito sa record, ano po bang record ang binabanggit ninyo Madam Witness?

Ito po yung validation ng teller na naka-appear po doon sa ilalim.

Madam Witness, pwede po bang pakituro po sa amin na saan po dito sa parting to ng dorsal side ng

Cheque,

yung binabanggit po ninyo?

Nasa iba ba po, lower right portion.

Lower right portion. Pwede po bang pakizoom para po mas malinaw at para po sa mas makita po natin ang maigit.

Saan po dito? Ano pong nakalagay?

20 December 2022.

Yan. Okay.

Now,

Madam Witness, kailan nilagay ang markang ito kung alam po ninyo?

Noong time po na yung encashment.

Okay.

Now, pupunta na po tayo sa pangalawang dokumento, Madam Witness.

Ito po, ito

po ay yung check number 0000.

244053 na may petsang January 31, 2023 at payable sa isang, again, Ms. Gina F. Acosta for 125 million

pesos.

Now, Madam Witness, ano po ang relasyon ng checking ito sa mga checking binabanggit po ninyo kanina?

Kung meron

man po.

Yan pong checking na yan ay isa po sa mga apatay check-in po na na-encash po. Ms. Gina F. Acosta, nung ako po ang branch manager.

Okay. Madam Witness, hindi ko na po itatanong sa inyo yung taas dahil yung po ay in-admit na at in-stipulate na po natin. Pupunta po tayo doon sa lower portion kung saan may nakalagay na exhibit P das Roman numeral 1 das 28 das B That's one. Now, Madam Witness, ano po itong imahe na minarkahan ng nasabing exhibit? Kung alam po ninyo.

Ito po yung likod ng cheque po.

Okay. Now, bakit po pa kayo pamilyar dito po sa checking ito, Madam Witness?

Ito po yung in-encash nga po ni Miss Gina Cosa nung time ko pong manager sa Landmine Show.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, pupunta tayo dun sa malaking box.

Pwede po bang paki-zoom in ulit yung malaking box?

Pwede po paki-ipatya tayo po.

Now, Madam Witness, kagaya po lang ako ng cheque, ito po ay may tatlong boxes. Doon at nakapaloob po sa malaking box. Doon sa kaliwa, may nakalagay po dito, signature verified by? At meron din pong mukhang pirma. Now, Madam Witness, kaninong pirma po ito? Kung maalala po ninyo at kung kilala po ninyo.

Gaya po ng sabi ko kanina, ang nakapirma po sa signature verified by ang verifier po ng branch.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, doon naman po sa gitna, meron din po ditong pirma na posted by. Kaninong pirma po ito? Kung maalala po ninyo at kung kilala po ninyo.

Sa posted by po, si Teller po.

Doon naman po, sa parting nakalagay approved by. Kanina naman pong pirma ito, kung alam po at kung kilala po ninyo.

Pirma po yan ang approver. Akin po yan ang initial signature.

Ah, pirma po ninyo. Okay. Now, Madam Witness, bakit po kayo pamilyar dun sa unang dalawang pirma na binabanggit po ninyo?

Mga staff ko po siya nung ako po ay branch manager po nung showbilly bird branch. At nawi-witness ko rin po yung mga firma nila sa iba pong mga bank documents.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, ito pong pangalawang cheque na nakikita po natin, kailan po ito in-encash kung maalala po ninyo?

As shown po dito sa dokumento, ito po in-encash noong 06 Feb 2023 po.

06 Feb 2023. Now, Madam Witness, nasa ang parte? Dito po sa ligot, yung inyong pinagbabasihan?

Nasa lower right portion.

Lower right portion. Pwede po ba pakituro po ninyo specific? Saan po dyan na nakalagay? Yun po,

06 Feb 2023.

06 Feb 2023. Okay.

Now, Madam Witness, kailan po inilagay ang markang ito kung alam po ninyo?

Nung araw po na-encashment po niya.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, pupunta na po tayo sa ikatlong cheque. With

the permission of the Honorable Chua, Attorney Poa, is this part of what you stipulated or no? The verifier's signature, the teller's signature, the approver's signature, as well as the date of encashment. To

be candid, Your Honor, it wasn't part, but right now, we are willing to stipulate the same.

So, if you're willing to stipulate, let the presiding officer state it for the record that the signature underneath the, on the dorsal side of the check with number 000024, kindly show it to the screen, 245511 in the amount of 125 million pesos. With the PES Gina F. Acosta dated April 18, 2023, that the signatures of the verifier, the teller, and the approver are all authentic and genuine, and that these were made in the course of their ordinary performance of duties, and the date of encashment is April 25, 2023, correct?

That's correct.

And insofar as land bank check number 000024, kindly show it to the screen, 5664, payable to Gina F. Acosta in the amount of 125 million dated July 13, 2023. The signature of the verifier, teller, and approver on the dorsal side are also all authentic and were signed in the course of the performance of their ordinary duties. and that the date of encashment is July 14, 2023, correct?

Stipulate, Your Honor.

So stipulated, counsel from the panel of prosecutors, the Honorable Chua, given the stipulation, these are now deemed admissions for the information of the senator judges, and no proof or testimony is necessary to be presented by the panel of prosecutors. You may proceed, Honorable Chua. Okay,

with that, Your Honor. We would like to manifest that and state for the record, Your Honor, that the dorsal portion of the said checks were marked, Your Honor, as our exhibit P, that's Roman numeral 1, that's 28, that's

8,

that's 1.

For the first check, Your Honor, and for the second check, Your Honor, exhibit P, that's Roman numeral 1, that's 28, that's... B, that's 1. And for the third check, Your Honor, Exhibit P, that's Roman numeral 1, that's 28, that's C, that's 1. And for the fourth check, Your Honor, is Exhibit P, that's Roman numeral 1, that's 28, D, that's 1, Your Honor. Order record, Your Honor.

Now, Julie noted and entered into the records. You may proceed when you're ready.

Thank you, Your Honor. Now, Madam Witness, Dito po sa checking ito, may nakatatak po dito na certified true copy of the digital copy on file. Now, Madam Witness, pwede po ba malaman namin nasaan po ang original ng checking ito, kung alam po ninyo?

Ang original copy po ng mga checking ito ay na-shred na po siya.

Okay. Bakit po siya sinred, kung alam po ninyo?

As per bank policy po, lahat po ng mga negotiated checks ay may retention period lang po ng one year. Kaya ito po ay sinishred na.

Okay. So sinasabi po ninyo na ang mga cheque ay sinishred. Now, Madam Witness, pag sinabi ninyong shred, ano po ang ibig sabihin ninyo ng salitang o katagang shred?

Ang meaning po ng shred, ito po ay dumadaan po siya sa machine shredder. So, napipirapirasan na po siya ng maliliit.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, sabi ninyo, yung physical copy ng mga checking ito ay na-shred na. Ngayon, ano ang relasyon na itong digital copies na ito sa mga cheque na galing sa land bank na binabanggit mong cheque?

Ano po ang relasyon?

Yes.

Ito po yung mga cheque po na na-encash po ni Ms. Gina Acosta.

Okay.

Now, Madam Witness, Pupunta po tayo sa proseso ng encashment ng apat na cheque. Okay. Now, Madam Witness, ano ang proseso ng encashment dito po sa apat na cheque nito? Kung maalala po ninyo.

Ang proseso po ng encashment namin, particularly itong transaction na ito, ay malaki po yung amount involved. So, meron po tumatawag sa amin from cash division po ng OVP a day or two prior po doon sa encashment na meron po...

Sige po, tuloy po ninyo.

Meron po silang for encashment nga po na 125 million.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, binanggit ninyo, meron sa inyong tumatawag from the cash department ng OBP. Now, Madam Witness, ang tanong ko po, sino po ang tumatawag sa inyo from the cash department ng OBP? Kung maaalala lang po ninyo.

Yung sa cash division po yan ng OBP, si Ms. Queenie Masangkay po.

Queenie Masangkay. At

sino naman po sa inyong branch ang tinatawagan ni Miss Queenie Masangkay?

Ako po ang tinatawagan niya.

Now, Madam Witness, paano po ninyo nalaman na si Miss Queenie Masangkay ay from Cash Department ng OBP?

Bali siya po yung liaison ng OVP from the Caste Division at siya rin po yung tumatawag po sa akin sa other banking needs po nila.

Okay. So, Madam Witness, kanina binanggit ninyo na kaya tumatawag sa inyo si Ms. Queenie Masangkay para i-advise kayo a day or two prior? Opo. Bakit po kailangan kayong i-advise a day or two prior sa engagement?

Bali, meron po kasing cash involved limit lang po ang branch. So wala po kami any given day na amount po for that match po. Kaya kailangan po namin itong mag-request po sa aming cash center for assistance.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, ang tanong ko po sa inyo, pagkatapos po kayong tawagan ni Ms. Queenie Masangkay, ano na po ang susunod na mangyayari kung meron man po?

Bali po,

Kinakommunicate po sa aming branch cashier na meron po ganitong cash requirement po ang office of the vice president. At the same time po para po maka-coordinate po siya sa aming cash center for the cash transfer po.

So pagkatapos po mag-request o mako-coordinate ng inyong cashier, ano na po ang susunod na mangyayari kung meron man po?

Bali po paggatingan ng cash na ito, tinatawagan ko po si Miss Gina, ay si Miss... Queenie Masangkay po na available na po yung cash sa branch.

Okay. So pagkatapos po ninyong tawagan si Miss Queenie Masangkay, ano na po ang susunod pang mangyayari kung meron man po?

Bali, pumupunta na po si Miss Gina Costa at si Mr. Ortonio po sa branch para po mag-encash.

Okay. Ngayon, binanggit po ninyo ang isang pangalang Miss Gina Costa at Mr. Ortonio. Paano po ninyo nakilala? si Ms. Acosta at si Mr. Ortonio.

Uno ko pong nakilala si Mr. Ortonio kasi bali, isa po siya sa mga auto-resignatories po ng OPP. And then, inintroduce niya po si Ms. Gina Acosta na siya po yung pay ng cheque worth 125 million po.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, pagpunta po sa inyo ni Ms. Gina Acosta at ni Mr. Ortonio, ano na po ang susunod? na mangyayari?

Noong first encounter ko po sa kanila, bali po yung check-in na yun ay binigay po ni Ms. Gina together with her identification card niya. So, finaward ko po ito sa verifier para po ma-process.

So, pagkatapos po ninyo i-forward sa verifier para ma-process, ano na po ang susunod na nangyari kung meron man po?

Bali po, biniverify po ito ni verifier, yung mga auto-resignatories po ng cheque. And then, sinicheck niya rin po sa system kung ito po ay mayroon ng advice from the OVP para po ito ay i-release na.

Okay. So pagkatapos po maicheck, kung mayroon ng advice, ano na po ang susunod na mangyayari kung mayroon man po?

Na-forward na po ito sa teller para po i-encode sa system at para po makapag-request na po siya ng cash.

Okay. So pag forward sa Taylor, ano na po ang susunod na mangyayari kung meron man po?

Pag po na-approve na rin po ng approver, tatawagin na po niya si Ms. Gina Costa para po mapareceive niya po yung cash.

Okay. So sabi ninyo, tatawagin ni approver si Ms. Gina Costa para tanggapin na yung cash.

Si Taylor po ang tumatawag.

Okay. Tatawagin ni Taylor si Ms. Gina Costa para...

Ipa-receive na po yung cash.

Ipa-receive na yung cash.

Ano na po ang susunod mangyayari pagkatapos pong i-inform ni Taylor si Ms. Gina Acosta?

Bale, since malaka din nga po yung amount, inaguide po si Gina Acosta papasok po sa backroom para po doon i-release yung cash.

Okay. Ngayon, may binabanggit po kayong backroom.

Sino-sino po ang nasa backroom kung alam po ninyo?

Noong pong unang release po noong cash, ako po ang nandoon, si Teller, yung branch cashier, si Ms. Gina, and then si Mr. Limuel po,

or Tonyo. So pagdating ninyo sa backroom, ano na po yung mga sumunod na pangyayari kung meron na po?

Nirelease po yung ng Teller po, after po ma-receive sa cheque po, yung payment received, nirelease na po ni Teller yung cash. kay Ms. Gina, in packs po siya, worth 1 million each po.

Okay. So, maalala po ba ninyo kung ilang packs po ang nirelease kay Ms. Gina Acosta?

Bali, 125 packs po.

125 packs. Okay. Now, pagkatapos pong i-release itong pera in packs, in 125 packs, ano na po ang susunod na mangyayari?

Bali, nilalagay na po nila yun sa dala po nilang bags.

Okay. Ngayon, meron po kayong binanggit na bag.

Madam Witness, anong klaseng bag ang pinaglagyan ng pera kung maalala po ninyo?

Sa pagkaalala ko po, isang mahabang malaking bag po siya. Para pong gym bag.

Okay. Madam Witness, ilang bag po ang dala po ni Ms. Gina Acosta at ni Mr. Ortonio?

Sa pagkaalala ko po, mga 3 to 4 bags po yun.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, sabi ninyo, nilagay dito yung 125 million sa 3 to 4 bags. Okay.

Ano na po ang susunod na mangyayari pagkalagay po nila dito po sa bag?

Lalabas na po sila ng bangko.

Okay. Madam Witness, si Ms. Gina Acosta lang po ba? May kasama pa po ba si Ms. Gina Acosta at si Lemuel Ortonio?

Sa pagkaalala po, meron po silang kasama.

Ilan po? Kung maalala po ninyo?

Hindi ko na po ma-recall.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness,

ang

tanong ko po sa inyo, paglabas po nila, meron po ba sa banko na empleyado na tumulong sa kanila para bitbitin po itong bag kung meron man po?

Wala po, sir.

Bakit po wala?

It's against bank policy po na tumulong po sa mga kliyente, ang mga empleyado or even po yung security guards po namin.

Bakit po yun against sa bank policy, Madam Witness?

In case po na for safety and security measures din po, para po hands-off na po ang banko once na marilis na po yung physical cash po.

Okay. Now, Madam Witness, ito pong huling tanong ko.

How much po in total, Madam Witness, Ang winidro in relation po dito po sa apat na cheque, binabanggit po ninyo?

Ang total po ng apat na cheque, mga ano po siya, kalahating billion po.

Okay. That would be all, Your Honor.

Thank you, Honorable Chua. Cross from the Council for Respondent. Attorney Poa, you may proceed when you're ready, sir.

Nothing to cross, Your Honor, from our end. However, Your Honor, may I just make a manifestation just on the markings, Your Honor?

Council may do

so. Just on the markings of the check, we'd also like to put on record, Your Honors, that for check with ending 244027 dated December 20, 2022, this is marked by the prosecution on the face of the check as D-1-130-OBP. On the dorsal portion, it is D-1-130-OBP. OVP-1. For the second check, dated January 31, 2023, ending with 244053.

On the face of the check, this is marked as D-1-131-OVP. Torsel portion is marked as D-1-131-OVP-1. For the third check, dated April 13, 2023, with ending 245511.

The

face of the check was marked as D-1-132-OVP while the dorsal portion was marked as D-1-132-OVP-1. The fourth and last check ending 245664 dated July 13, 2023. The face of the check was marked as D-1-133-OVP while the dorsal portion was marked as T-1-133-OVP-1. That is all, Your Honors. Again, nothing to cross from our end.

Yeah. Yeah. Just to correct you, the check ending in 5511 is dated April

18. Correct, Yon. April 18, 2023.

No, you mentioned 13 earlier.

So it's 18. Yes, 18, Yon. Thank you.

Given that there is no cross and therefore no redirect, we now proceed to allow the senator judges for their interventions in the order that they signify their intent to ask questions and make interventions. The Honorable Erwin Tulfo, thereafter, the Honorable Rafi Tulfo, thereafter, the Honorable Senator Judge Aquino. The Honorable Tulfo is recognized for his interjections and interventions. You have two minutes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

Ms. Witness, Ms. Constantino, dyan ba talaga ang account ng mga OVP sa bangko ninyo sa show? Or si VP lang ang nag-open ang account dyan sa bangko ninyo?

Yung Office of the Vice President po.

OVP? Opo. So hindi lahat dyan may account ang OVP?

Wala na po kung alam.

Okay.

Kaya nga po, tanong mo natin, si dating VP Robredo po ba nagbukas din ang account dyan?

Actually po, na-transfer lang po sa amin ang MDS account po ng Office of the Vice President noong September 2022, noong lumipat po sila ng kanilang office address sa Pioneer, Mandaluyong.

Ah, okay. Normal po ba na ganito kalaki ang wini-withdraw ng isang government agency?

Is this normal? Nakakita ka na ba nito ng other government agencies na ganito kalaki ang withdrawal?

Wala po. Unusual po ito.

Unusual yung withdrawal. So therefore, kung unusual, Madam Witness, hindi mo kayo nagtanong man lang, para saan po ba kayo ito?

Kasi alam ko sa banko po, nagtatanong ako po, nagbabango ko sa privado, natatanong po yung staff ko, para saan magagamitin ni Sarah ito, ni Seth?

Hindi na

ba ninyo tinatanong?

Kasi po may advice naman po siya. So kumbaga dumaan naman po ito sa proseso nila. Kaya I don't think po na magtanong pa kami.

What is the SOP? Ano po ang standard operating procedure pag may mga malalaking withdrawal? Or exempted pag mga government agency lalo po at mga matataas na ahensya ng pamahalaan?

Wala na pong exemption. Kaya lang po itong sa particular na transaction po ng OVP, bali meron naman po kasi silang pinu-forward na advice po sa branch.

Okay.

Alam niyo po ba na ito ay for intelligence fund, yung winning withdraw?

Hindi po.

Hindi niyo po alam na intel fund ito?

Opo.

Pero nagduda po kayo sa ganitong kalaking halaga. Is that correct?

Sa personal opinion namin, sa banko. Parang siyempre po, saan kaya gagamitin po yung cash na ito? Pero hindi naman po namin tinanong na kasi may advice naman po siya.

Okay, panghuli na lamang po Madam Witness. May other agencies pa ba na may account sa inyo?

Marami naman po mga government agencies po sa

branch ninyo. Pero walang mga ganito kalalaking withdrawal?

So far po kasi nag-convert na po lahat kasi sila sa mga online system like yung sa ATM payroll. So hindi na po ganyang kalalaki yung mga withdrawals po nila.

Thank you Madam Witness. Thank you Presiding Officer.

Thank you Senator Judge Erwin Tulfo. Senator Judge Rafi Tulfo is recognized. You may proceed sir when you're ready for interjections and interventions. You have two minutes sir.

Madam Witness, magandang umaga po.

Magandang umaga rin po. Hindi

masyado klaro sa amin yung sinabi mong mga bag ang pinaglagyan nitong 125 million. Anong klaseng bag muli?

Sa pagkakaalala ko po, ito po isang malaking, mahabang bag. Parang diniscribe ko nga po as... Duffel

bag? Gym bag?

Gym bag po. Iba po kasi yung duffel bag sa bangko. So gym

bag, ano kalaking?

Mahaba po.

Okay. Ayon sa BSP, ang 1 million approximately 1 kilo. So that's 125 million. So si Gina lamang ang nagbit-bit ng 125 kilos palabas ng bangko?

Ang alam ko pong assistance na naalala ko po ay nag-provide po kami ng trolley.

At mag-isa lang si Gina?

May kasama po sila eh. Hindi ko lang po ma-recall. So

ilang daffle bag po ulit?

Mga 3 to 4. Bags po.

I mean, 3 to 4.

Gym bags.

Gym bags.

Dapat sigurado. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Kasi... Kung 125 million at tatlong gym bag, eh yung gym bag, ano lang kalaki yun? Mahaba. Mahaba. Kakasya ba dyan 125 kilos?

31 million per.

Baka

nagkakamali kayo.

Mga 3 to 4 bags nga po.

Dapat

precise po kayo. Dapat dina-jet daw nyo yan bago paglabas. 3 bags ang lumabas, ang pinaglagyan.

Hindi na po namin yan ano po.

Okay, sige. Pero dapat, you should be approximate, I mean precise kasi we're talking of impeachment of the vice president dito. Hindi dapat yung parang kalkulasyon-kalkulasyon lamang. As much as possible.

Opo, mga ganun, four bags.

Okay, four bags. Now, wala bang, kasi alam ko pag ganun kalaki amount, kuminsan yung bank ko nag-offer doon sa depositor. na i-deliver yung pera sa lugar na gusto nilang pupuntahan ng pera ngayon through the what we call armored car or armored vehicle. Hindi kayo nag-provide na ganoon?

Hindi po. Wala po kasi kaming memorandum of agreement regarding po sa services, cash services or cash delivery.

So hindi nag-request yung OVP ng cash delivery through armored vehicle papunta doon so back to their office. Okay.

Curious lang po, sino itong... Mayroon pa

isang pangalan nakapirma sa baba ng cheque, itong Rosaline L. Sanchez. Sa pagkakalam mo. Kasi diba sa baba, nakalagay Rosaline Sanchez and then Lemuel Ortonio, signatory doon sa paglilis ng cheque. Who are they?

Authorized signatory po. Isa po siya sa authorized signatories po ng Office of the Vice President. Si

Rosaline Sanchez, sino po ito?

Sa

pagkakalam niyo po.

Ang alam ko po, siya po yung sa finance. Sa

finance. Okay, nabagit nyo rin po prior dun sa withdrawal, you're given one or two days para makapag-prepare ng cash. Sino po ulit tumatawag sa inyo?

Si Ms. Queenie Masangkay po.

Paano po nalaman na si Ms. Queenie Masangkay tumatawag sa inyo?

Na-meet ko na rin po siya sa branch nung nag-open po sila ng MDS account po.

Okay, last na naman. Usually pag ganun kalaking amount ang mini-withdraw, Sinisiguro nyo na yung pupunta doon sa banko, yun yung authorized na mag-withdraw talaga ng perang yan. Kadalasan tinatawagan pa yung principal. Wala kayong ganong klase ng protocol in place?

Wala na po kasi may advice na po siya.

Wala na? May advice na po

siya.

Bago po yung bell, Senator Judge Raffi.

Next.

To be recognized for his interjections would be Senator Bam Aquino. You have two minutes, sir.

Maraming salamat, Mr.

Presiding Officer. Ms. Violeta, magandang umaga.

Magandang umaga din po.

Kaklaruin ko lang po, yung cheque ay mula po kanino?

Mula po sa Office of the Vice President.

Hindi po, diyan po napunta yung pondo, no? But kayino po, anong account galing po yung perang yan?

Sa Office of the Vice President nga po.

Because it was already downloaded to the Office of the Vice President from the Treasury. Is that correct?

Opo.

So this is OVP funds na napunta kay Ms. Gina Acosta na SDO po nila. Tama po.

Basta po si Ms. Gina yung payee po ng cheque.

Yung payee. Okay. Nabanggit niyo po kanina na unusual po yung laki.

Kapag ganun po, Do you report this to any agency? Kung nagtatakahan nyo po na parang laki naman ito. Do you do any reporting or wala na pong reporting yan?

I'm sorry, Your Honor. May we invoke po yung AMLA rule na hindi po kami pwede mag-disclose any information po regarding sa reporting.

Sa reporting?

Okay.

AMLA rule po siya.

Let me rephrase the question. Ang government transactions po ba ay sakop ng AMLA rules?

Makakasagot po yan ang AMLC po. Hindi,

pwede niyong sabihin. Hindi ko po alam yung sagot. Kayo po yung isang branch manager. So kayo po yung nasa landmark ng ilan taon. Alam niyo po yung mga rules. Nais ko lang pong malaman kung ang government transactions ba ay sakop ng AMLA regulations po natin.

Wala naman pong exemption po doon. So

sakop po siya?

Sakop po.

Okay. So ang sinasabi niyo po ba sa AMLA rules ay kasama ito sa mga covered or suspicious transactions? Tama po ba?

Yun nga po. So I invoke po na mag-prohibit po ako magsabi po nito.

Okay, let me rephrase. I'm sorry, for me these are simple questions, no? Regulations lang po ito.

So ulitin ko, sakop ang government transactions sa AMLA regulations, correct? Yes.

Lahat po.

Yes. At ano po ba yung rules natin pagating sa pagre-report sa AMLA? Above a certain amount? Tama po ba?

Opo.

Opo. Magkano po yung limit? Kapag above, what

amount po

yan?

More than 500,000 po.

Any amount above 500,000, whether private po o gobyerno, nire-report niyo po sa AMLA?

Supposedly po.

Okay. Yan yung covered o yan yung suspicious?

Yung over 500,000. Magkaiba po yun, di ba? Covered po.

Okay. Yung suspicious po, ano po yung... Regulasyon, kapag nagsasabit po kayo ng suspicious transaction, ano po yung batayan? Bakit ang isang transaction ay suspicious?

Kung sa tingin po namin ay doubtful po yung transaction. For this particular po, hindi naman po kami nag-doubt kasi alam namin po na legit po yung transaction.

Okay, klakrawin ko ha. Kahina po, sabi nyo personally, meron kayong pagdududa, pero officially, hindi po kayo nag-report na suspicious transaction po ito.

Wala po akong sinabing may pagdududa.

Kayina, sabi niyo, nung nagtanong si Senator Tulfo, sabi niyo,

personal lang. Unusual po

ang nasabi ko po.

Okay. So kahit at sa tingin po niyo, unusual ito, hindi niyo po ito ni-report bilang suspicious transaction?

Ayaw.

Hindi po pwede magsabi po na nag-report po kami dahil nga po i-invoke po yung AMLA law.

Okay. So covered, definitely, kasi it's above 500,000. Pero yung suspicious transaction, ayaw nyo pong sabihin dahil covered po ito ng AMLA lang.

Kasi para sa amin naman po ay talagang hindi naman po siya suspicious.

Okay. Sige po. Sige po, yun na

po muna. Maraming salamat, Mr. Presiding Officer.

Thank you, Sen. Bam Aquino. You may avail of the second round, if at all, Sen. Aquino. Sen. Judge Alan Cayetano is recognized thereafter. Sen. Judge Joel Villanueva, you have two minutes.

I'm sorry, after

Senator Allen, Senator Riza.

Thereafter, Senator Judge Joel Villanueva. You

have two minutes, sir. Magandang umaga, Madam Witness. Welcome to the Senate. Most of my questions natanong naman ni Senator Erwin. I'd just like to ask, but you're familiar with the concept of confidential or discretionary funds? Or hindi? In government parlance.

Wala po kang

alam. Kasi kung hindi ka familiar, whether that agency has 50 million discretionary funds or let's say if you were the manager sa OP and they had, I don't know how much now, 10 billion, you won't find it unusual kung 500 million, 250, 1 billion. Kasi nga usual means parate. Unusual means. Bakit ganito kalaki? Because when I was in the DFA, there was a big storm. And I've never dealt with land bank directly except for my personal account as sa sweldo ko as DFA Secretary. But the President asked us, what can each agency do? So my staff then, si Yusek Arriola said, Sir maraming ma-stastak sa mga ports, airport at seaport. May isa tayong fund. Kung OFW sila, pwede tayong magbigay. So I think we had to withdraw 50 or 100 million. At sinabi nung branch manager, wala. And then it was a Friday. So I had to call the president of land bank and say, Sir, masastranded hindi. And then they sent over 50 or 100 million. So my point is, just because it's unusual, it doesn't mean it's... illegal or whatever. Tama po ba?

Wala naman pong illegal dun sa encashment po.

Because nga, may difference when it's a private account. So it's a

private account and they don't usually, let's say, someone has a private account, commercial or private, meaning business or personal niya, they always withdraw 50,000, 100,000. This is theoretical ha, so hindi ito covered ng bank secrecy law. Suddenly, mag-we withdraw ng 3 million. Minsan nagtatanong, di ba? Dahil know your customer, di ba? Ganon din sa deposit. I'll just finish this line. Ganon din sa deposit, di ba? So kung sweldo ko 30,000, every time nagde-deposit ako 30,000, biglang magde-deposit ako 2 million, tatanungin ako, Sir, saan galing ito? Right?

Pero

pag government, as long as you're dealing with the people you identified with, so whether that's DPWH, whether that's DOTR, basta everything's in order. Magtataka ka lang pag sobrang laki ng amount. But then you'll release it.

Kindly wind

up. Thank you. I was just clarifying that point.

Thank you, Senator Judge Allen. Senator Judge Risa Antiveros is recognized.

You may proceed, ma'am, when you're ready. You have two minutes.

Salamat po, Mr. Presiding Officer. Madam Witness. Yung 32 years nyo po na sinabi sa banking industry, yun po ba lahat ay sa land bank lamang? Opo. Okay. And then, sabi nyo po, unusual. Unusual yung withdrawals na ito. Sa 32 years nyo po sa banking industry, sa land bank, nakakita na po ba kayo ng ganyang kalaking amount na withdrawal ever before? First time po. First time. Okay.

Sabi nyo nga kanina, unusual yung amount. First time may ganyang amount na 125 million pesos. Bakit nyo sinabing unusual? Ano yung floor nyo para sabihin unusual yung isang amount?

Usually po kasi kaya naging unusual pa sa akin kasi cash po siyang kinukuha.

Sa

other, ano naman po, kumbaga nag-issue po sila ng mga cheque sa yung disbursement po nila by checks po, hindi po cash. Okay.

So hindi lang yung laki nung halaga na 125 million ang unusual, unusual din na yung ganyang unusual amount ay sa cash kinuha at hindi sa mga cheque. Okay. And yung 125 million, yun ba yung minimum na pag kinuha in cash, sasabihin nyo unusual? Or meron bang lowest amount na kapag kinuha in cash, sasabihin nyo na rin unusual?

Pwede naman po namin sabihin na unusual. Let's say kung over, let's say 500,000 na po siya.

Over 500,000? Kung over 500,000 kinuha in cash, sasabihin nyo unusual. For that particular, let's say po yung kliyente. Yes. For the particular client. E ito, hindi lang 500,000, 125 million. So, 250 times mas unusual. Sa minimum amount na sasabihin yung unusual kung kinuha in cash.

Depende po rin sa

yung kliyente po. Depende sa kliyente. But kung sino mang kliyente aside, nasabi niyong unusual dahil 125 million na para po sa akin is 250 times yung 500,000 at hindi po in-check kundi in-cash po kinuha.

Pwede nga po, depende po sa depositor po niya. Kung regular lang sa kanya yung mga ganyan, withdrawals or what, it's usual. Pero kung parang... For the first time, ma-encounter namin that much, unusual po sa akin.

And this was your first time?

Opo. And

in your 32 years, sigit tatlong dekada, kung masasabi natin, pambihirang amount ito in cash. Opo. Masasabi natin, once in a lifetime, yung ganitong amount in cash. Pwede po. Pwede. Alright. Salamat, Mr. Presiding Officer. Thank you.

Tutuloy ko po sa second round.

Thank you, Senator Judge Riza. Senator Judge Villanueva, thereafter, our Distinguished Senate President. You may proceed, sir. When you're ready, you have two minutes.

Thank you, Sir Presiding Officer, Sir President. Madam Witness, binanggit niyo po yung unusual, no? And gusto kong susugan yung katanungan. Yung usual, below 500,000 pag individual. Pero kung ito'y government agency, paano niyo masasabi na ito'y unusual?

Any depositor naman po, kung hindi naman po ganong frequency lang nag-i-withdraw ng ganong kalaking cash.

Kaya po naano ko siyang unusual.

Kung ganito po na apat na beses na nag-withdraw na 125 million, would you say usual na siya?

Unusual nga po. Kung

apat na sunod-sunod na, yung binanggit po ninyo, 125 million, sunod-sunod, nagiging usual na po ba siya o unusual pa rin?

Pwede naman po. What is it? Kung sunod-sunod naman po, magiging ano na po siya. Talagang usual transaction na po yun.

So, kung ganun nga po na apat na sunod-sunod, usual transaction na siya.

Opo.

Madam Witness, as I understand, yung process, the BM would provide the funding, notice of cash allocation, and then the agency authorizes the disbursement. At kayo, for example, sa inyong bank o sa land bank, bine-verify nyo lang at you pay the corresponding instrument. Is that correct?

Opo. Bine-verify po yung... pag-issue ng cheque po, yung mga signatories, payees, like that po. So

bago po inilabas ang salapi o yung pera, ano-ano pong dokumento yung actual na natatanggap po ninyo at inyong masusing sinusuri? Kasi sabi nyo nga ho, I'm sure from the first withdrawal, as you made mention, it's unusual. So ano yung mga talagang sinusuri po ninyo na dokumento bago nyo i-release ito?

supported naman po ito ng advice. So, once po nakapasok na po sa system at funded naman po siya, okay na po sa amin yun.

So, yun lang po yung inyong sine-check? Opo. And that's it? You release it right away?

Yes,

sir. And binanggit niyo po kanina, hindi ito suspicious.

Para sa ano po, hindi po siya suspicious. At

lahat po ay legitimate?

Yes, sir.

One last... question that I'd like to ask. With this amount of money that will be withdrawn by the payee, ano yung mga advance arrangements? Kasi sabi nyo nga, hindi usual, biglaan, 125 million. Ano yung mga advance arrangements na inihingi po ninyo o tinatawag po sa inyo bago mailabas po itong Salapin na ito. How far in advance was land bank informed that these amounts of physical cash would be required for each transaction?

Mga a day or two po, ni-inform po kami from the cash division po ng OVP na meron po silang ganong cash requirement. So sa amin naman po, pinaprocess naman po namin yung requirements nila bago po namin sila advised na available na po yung cash. So

in 24 hours, kaya na po?

Pwede naman po.

Salamat po. Maraming salamat.

Thank

you.

Thank

you, Senator Judge Villanueva. The distinguished Senate President is recognized. You have two minutes for your interjection, sir. Thank

you, Mr. Presiding Officer. Good morning, Ms. Constantino. Sundan ko lang po yung natanong kanina ni Senator Riza. So in your 32 years in land bank, hindi pa po kayo nakakita ng withdrawal na ganito kalaking amount?

125 million. Tama po ba?

Yes po, sir.

Ano yung pinakamalaking nakita nyo ng withdrawal? In cash?

Hindi ko na po ma-recall. More

or less lang. Mabigyan nyo kami.

In cash?

In cash.

Pinakamalaking

nakita nyo na o na-experience yun na? Mga

500,000 po.

500,000. And next, ito na. 125 million.

Yes, sir.

In... Ang Shaw Boulevard, maraming negosyo dyan. So I assume maraming mga private companies dyan. May nakita na ba kayong cash withdrawal from a private company na ganito kalaki in the hundreds of millions?

Mostly po mga cheque po yung ini-issue nila.

Cheque? Meron

bang

mga cash withdrawal din sa private companies?

Wala po.

Wala, puro cheque lang ang ini-issue nila.

Nabanggit nyo kanina na apat na beses pumunta sila Miss Acosta at si Mr.

Ortonio sa inyo. Tama po ba? Apat na beses?

Yes, sir.

Nung nag-withdraw sila, meron ba kayong any casual talk kung saan gagamitin itong mga perang ito? Kasi sabi nyo nga kanina, unusual. Ngayon lang kayo nakakita. Hindi ba nagkaroon kayo ng konting parang casual talk sa pangatlo o pang-apat na pagkita ninyo kung saan gagamitin itong perang ito?

Hindi ko na po ma-recall, Your Honor.

I'm sure nag-uusap kayo, di ba?

Yeah, brief talk.

Brief talk. Mayroon bang nasabi kung saan gagamitin itong perang ito?

Hindi ko na nga po maalala. Sorry po.

Hindi nyo na maalala? Okay. And then... Kanina nasa tanong rin ni Senator Bam. Typically, rinireport to sa AMLAC. Yung mga ganitong kalaking amount. Nai-report nyo ito? Hindi yung detalya. Ang tanong lang naman kung na-report yung ganitong kalaking cash withdrawal sa AMLAC.

Ang alam ko po ang land bank naman po ay compliant po sila when it comes to reporting po.

So, nare-report siya?

Kumlayan po kami doon. Alright.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.

Senator Judge Pangilinan is recognized. You may proceed, sir. You have two minutes when you're ready.

Thank you.

Magandang umaga. Magandang

umaga po.

Unang-una, si Gina Acosta, kilala ninyong bilang Special Disbursing Officer, tama? As

pay po ng cheque.

Hindi bilang Special Disbursing Officer? Hindi po. Kung siya ang pay, Hindi, at sinabi nyo iba ang tumatawag sa inyo na two days in advance? Diba po. Diba? Sino yung sinabi nyo tumatawag? Si

Ms. Queeneng Masangkay po.

Ms. Masangkay. Opo. Bakit iba? Would you know, if you know, bakit iba yung pay, iba yung tumatawag?

Wala po kang idea kasi it's under the agency po kung sino pong gusto nilang. Gawing payee po.

Pero bakit si Masangkay ay kilala mo?

Nagpakilala

siya? Did you meet each other?

Na-meet ko po siya kasi po nung bago po sila mag-open ang account po sa amin, so nag-visit po sila sa branch.

Okay, so you knew her personally and therefore siya ang tumatawag. Pero ang payee ay si Gina Acosta. In other accounts, would you know? Or would you have experience na ganun din? Iba yung payee, iba yung tumatawag? I suppose, yes, no?

Wala po akong idea.

Okay, okay. Doon sa nabanggit niyong first time ang ganyang kalaking halaga, kaya sabi niyo unusual.

Meron pa bang ibang ahensya? Tama bang sabihin? Walang ibang ahensya ng pamalaan ang naglalabas ng ganyang kalaking pera? sa inyong accounts, sa inyong branch, dahil kayo ay depository ng government bank, hindi ba?

Wala na po kong ma-recall kasi nga po, kagaya sabi ko kanina, lahat po ay nakonverta po sila sa mga online transactions.

And most government agencies would use checks.

Checks or online transactions. Or

online transactions. Okay, so...

And sinabi nyo, ang average na cash transaction sa inyong withdrawals, apart from yung 125 million na cash, yung average is about 500,000, tama? Yung average amount ng cash.

Pwede po or lower than that. Kung cash po. Yes, yes.

So, malaki yung agwat, no?

Opo. And

that's why you say it's unusual.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

I have no other questions, Mr. President, Presiding Officer. Just to manifest that earlier, the witness said that she's bound by the confidentiality rule under the AMLA law. We take exception to that, but I understand that we will be tackling this matter in another article. We will not concede that you cannot disclose this information, this being the impeachment court, but it being. Dahil ito 'y

itatakal sa ibang articles of incorporation, we will not pursue it at this time. I mean the articles of impeachment rather. Is it Article 2? Then we will not insist and we will not push the issue at this time. For the record,

Mr. President. Noted. But Chair would also like to place on the record that While indeed the court issued a subpoena vis-a-vis the AMLC, the provision of the law on the confidentiality with respect to bank officers are indeed provided for in the AMLC. That bank officers are those authorized to report both suspicious transactions and those exceeding 500,000 are not allowed to disclose whether or not they report. And thank you, Ms. Constantina, for being very...

Cooperative and at the same time prudent with respect to your answers regarding the AMLC provision. Dahil kayo po yung madedimanda kung sakasakaling, hindi naman po kami. If there are no other, Senator Judge Aimee, before we go on a second round. Senator Judge Aimee, thereafter, Senator Judge Erwin Tulfo for a second round, Senator Judge Ontiveros for a second round, and Senator Judge Raffi for a second round. Senator Aimee, you may proceed when you're ready. And you have two minutes, ma'am.

Thank you very much, Presiding Judge. And this is a very simple question by way of information to the prosecution. During the Blue Ribbon Committee, a certain Jean Abaya was called as a resource person. As I recall, she was then the operations head of Land Bank Shaw and assumed the position of department manager thereafter. I understand, of course, that the prosecution has the right to choose your witnesses. I am simply curious, bakit hindi pinatawag si Ms. Abaya na mag-testigo ngayon, samantalang siya yung may personal knowledge ng encashment ng mga cheque na pinag-uusapan?

Your Honor, at that time, when this cheque was encashed, ang ating testigo, siya po ang branch manager. Hindi po si yung nabanggit po ninyo.

Yes, alam ko na siya yung branch manager pero yung operations head at that time, si Jean Abaya. As a matter of fact, she was even able to say that the entire amount of the checks was withdrawn each encashment. So, ang lumalabas doon sa house hearing, kung naaalala kong maigi, si Ms. Abaya ang direct ng nakipag-deal kay Ms. Acosta, di ba?

Your Honor, kung maririnig po natin yung kanyang salaysay, siya po kasi yung nakikipag-coordinate sa OBP.

Siya yung nakikipag-coordinate? Or sino ang direktang nakikipag-usap kay Ms. Abaya kung gano'n? Kay Ms. Acosta, sorry. Di ba si Jean Abaya?

Pwede po

akong sumagot.

Yun ang pagkaintindi ko doon sa House hearing eh.

Pwede po akong sumagot. Yes, please. Si Jean Abaya po, siya po yung next in rank. Nung ako po ay branch manager. Siya yung? Next in

my rank. Oo, yeah. Pero siya ba yung director nakipag-deal kay Ms. Acosta ng Deped?

Ako po ang director sa OVP po.

Nakakapagtaka lang kung bakit nung house hearing, si Ms. Abaya ang siyang nagsabi ng direktahan na yung entire amount ng cheque was withdrawn each encashment. Hindi po kayo. Ba't nagkaganon?

Your Honor, bali po si Gina Abaya po ang... naging incumbent manager, siya po yung pumalit sa akin as branch manager. So at that time, tinanong po nga siya. So since operations manager po siya, aware din po siya sa transaksyon. Pero natanong din po siya kung sinong direct ang kumakausap sa... Cash division staff. So, kaya po ako napatawa.

Kayo yung direct ang nakipag-usap? Opo. Kahit siya ang nag-attest na talagang buong amount ang win it draw? Aware

naman po siya sa mga transactions nito sa branch.

Okay. Maliban doon, Ms. Constantino, nung house sa Blue Ribbon, Narinig ko, nung tinanong ni Congressman Luistro, sino ang nag-withdraw ng pera at linagay sa mga bag, nung una, sabi niyo, you didn't recall. Matapos nun, medyo may leading question si Congresswoman nun eh. Kasi ang sabi, do you recall Ms. Acosta? Do you recall Mr. Antonio? Bigla ninyong naalala si Ms. Acosta at si Mr. Antonio? Tama ba yun? Ba't nagkaganon? Nung una hindi ninyo maalala, pagkatapos nun naalala na ninyo. Ano ba talaga

ang naaalala ninyo para klaro tayo? Pwede po ba nating balikan po kung yung transcript po talaga? Kasi baka po mamaya, baka lang po, I'm sorry, may iba pong issue before. Tapos po natanong ako kung bakit ko po kilala yung dalawa. Kasi nung una,

tinatanong. Kung nare-recall ninyo, sino naglagay ng pera sa mga bag? Sabi po ninyo na hindi ninyo maalala. Tama ba yun?

Ang pagkakaalala ko po...

Sorry

po. Ang pagkakaalala ko po... Sinagot ko po yun na si Miss Gina ang naglagay si Mr. Ortonio. Ang hindi ko po ma-recall kung sino po yung naglabas na ng cash. Hindi

ko tinatanong yun. Hindi yun ang tinutukoy ko. Ang tinutukoy ko... Yung paiba-ibang sagot, kasi nung una sabi nyo, hindi ninyo maalala kung sino naglagay ng pera sa bag. Pakatapos nung binanggit sa inyo, do you recall, Ms. Acosta, do you recall, Mr. Ortonio, naalala ninyo kung sino naglagay na yung dalawa? Bakit ganun? Yun lang po.

Considering that Ms. Acosta is allegedly the payee, bakit hindi ninyo naalala ka agad? Doon ako nagtataka.

Wala po akong matandaan na hindi ko ma-recall po yung naglagay ng pera sa bags. Ang alam ko po, na-recall ko kung sino po ang naglabas ng bags.

Okay, balikan na lang po natin yung transcript sa lower house at baka maipaliwanag ninyo sa amin na maigi. Maraming salamat. The

lady may avail for round two. With the permission of Senators Erwin Tulfo, Ontiveros, and Rafi Tulfo, Chair would like to acknowledge Senator Luxon for sensitive this first round to ask questions. Thereafter, we will be recognizing in this order Senators Erwin Tulfo, Senator Ontiveros, and Senator Rafi Tulfo. For their second round. Senator Lacson, may proceed. Thank you, Mr.

Presiding Officer. Hindi po ako magtatanong. I will only make a manifestation. I'm only wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential fund. Kasi po, in my previous life, sa intelligence, sa law enforcement, ang natatandaan ko, kasi limited yung purpose. ng intelligence at saka confidential fund. Nagtataka lang ako, nakita ko yung regularity ng withdrawals, ng cash, parang every quarter except for December, December 20. So sana kung para ma-educate kami at saka magkaroon kami ng informed decision later on, sana na meron tayong competent witness sa pag-handle ng intelligence fund or confidential fund. Para sa ganun naman, ma-appreciate namin. At matanong din namin sa sarili namin, regular ba yung every quarter? Kasi January, April, tapos July, di ba? Parang regular eh. Ang alam ko, pagka may pangangailangan, dahil merong intelligence gathering operation, may confidential activities, saka palang mangangailangan ng pera. So yun lang, Mr. Presiding Officer.

The

defense may also...

respond or comment with the prosecution. Thank you. We

will recognize both sides but recognize first to respond to the inquiry of the manifestation rather of Senator Judge Lacson, the Honorable Chua. You may proceed, sir.

Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor, we will be presenting our witness pero hindi po siya yung tetestigo po pagdating po dyan. In time po, we will be presenting witness or witnesses that will explain. Yung manner po ng confidential funds.

As my staff, wala po sa listahan ng testigo na meron tayong competent witness.

So saan ang galing yung sinasabing yung may pre-presenteo? Yung COA po. COA is not a competent witness sa paghandal ng intelligence and confidential funds. Somebody... Your Honor,

meron

po kasi kaming reservation. A retired intelligence officer. You know, somebody like that na maalam. Mag-handle. Nagtataka lang mo bakit masyadong regular, tapos yung una pa, natapat pa na magpapasko?

Yes, Your Honor. May pe-present po kami, pero kung makikita po ninyo dun sa aming pre-trial brief, meron po dun reservation. Thank you. Thank you. Confidential pa daw po.

The Honorable Attorney, or rather, is recognized for your comment to the manifestation of Senator Lacson. Thank

you,

Mr. Siding

Officer. Same comment, actually, with the prosecution, Your Honors. Meron din po kasi tayong mga reservations. So we will present when we feel necessary, Your Honor. Sa ngayon nga, confidential pa din

yung witness. Senator Erwin Tulfo is recognized for his availment of round 2. You may proceed, sir. You have 2 minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer. Miss Witness, ito po ang transaksyon na 125, 4 times yata ito. Tama po ba?

Tama po.

Alright. Hindi po ninyo na-report ito sa AMLAC?

Gaya po, nasabi ko po, na-invoke ko po yung AMLA rule prohibiting us to disclose po any information regarding that.

No, I'm not saying na you have to disclose to us, pero I'm saying, kailangan po bang i-report ito? Kasi ma'am, ayon po sa AMLAC law natin, covered po, ang lahat po ng government transactions ng government agencies. Tama po ba? Do you agree to that? Yes

po.

At saka, another thing, ito po ba, ang transaction na ito ay nasa ilalim ng list of due and demandable accounts, payable, LDDAP, at saka, meron po ba itong advice to debit account, ADA?

Meron po silang advice na nai-issue po yan.

Okay, pero... Nasa ilalim po ba ito ng LDDAP? Yung list of due and demandable accounts? I

think agency na po ang pwedeng sumagot po regarding this.

Okay. Alright. That's all, Mr. Presiding Officer. Thank you, Senator Judge

Erwin Tulfo. Senator Judge Risa Antiveras for her second round. You may proceed, ma'am. When you're ready, you have two minutes.

Salamat po, Mr. Presiding Officer. Madam Witness, yung unusual pa rin. Bago ibang tanong. Sinabi nyo kanina sa prosecution may cash involved limit. Magkano po yung cash involved limit?

Sa branch po

namin. Sa branch ninyo.

Pwede ko bang hindi sagutin po yan for security. Ah, alright. Then hindi ko itatanong yung follow-up question doon.

Ito na lang. Sabi po ninyo, wala ang branch ninyo ng ganyang amount. Kung pwede nyo sabihin, magkano po ang halaga na meron ang branch nyo?

Malaki po kasi amount. So in any given day po kasi talagang wala po kami branch. So pwede ko po in average kung ano lang po yung sa tingin namin na kasha po yung during the operational transactions po ng branch. Magkano po

yung average na yun sa branch nyo? Transactions for the day?

For us, mga ano po. Maybe, mga, sorry po,

mga 20M po. 20M. So ito pong 125 million ay times 6 po dun sa average na transaction sa branch nyo in a given day. Opo. Okay. And then, sabi nyo rin po kanina sa prosecution, kailangang tawagan ang cash center ninyo para i-transact yung amount. Magkano po yung floor ulit na halaga? Para kailangan nyong tawagan ang cash center ninyo?

Any cash requirements naman po ay tinatawag namin sa cash center po namin for assistance.

Okay. Would you say anything above 20 million, kailangan kayong tumawag sa cash center?

Kahit po less than, basta po requirement po namin sa branch for that day, sa daily operations po namin.

And yung 125 million na yun ay lampas sa kaya ng branch nyo in that day? Opo.

Okay. Kaya

unusual ang sinabi nyo kanina sa prosecution. Okay po. In total, kalahating bilyong piso in cash ang minidraw ng Office of the Vice President sa branch ninyo. Sa experience nyo po, karaniwan rin po bang mag-withdraw ang isang ahensya ng ganyang halaga, kalahating bilyong piso, in cash, sa loob lamang ng walong buwan?

Hindi ko po yun masasagot kasi yung agency po maybe ang dapat pong sumagot about it.

Pero para sa branch po ninyo, naranasan nyo na po ba in the higit tatlong dekadang nagtrabaho kayo sa land bank na merong alinmang ahensyang nag-withdraw ng ganyang halaga, kalahating bilyong piso in cash sa loob lamang ng less than three quarters of a year?

Wala po akong ma-recall kasi mostly nga po ang sabi ko ay puro through online or ang transactions na po nila or cheque.

At bilang branch manager,

sinigurado nyo po ba na otorizado talaga ni Vice President yung pag-withdraw ng kalahating bilyong piso?

Meron naman po kasi silang in-issue advice. So binasin naman po natin yung checking na in-issue kay Ms. Jean Acosta na ito po ay may advice na po and funded.

Alright. So batay dun sa issue advice ni Ms. Jean Acosta, yun na yung pagtitiyak nyo na otorizado ni VP yung pag-withdraw nitong kalahating bilyong piso in cash. Salamat po. Salamat, Mr. Presiding Officer. Last two questions if there's a final round. Salamat po. Thank you, Senator

Judge Riza. Senator Judge Rafi Tulfo for his availment of round two. You may proceed, sir, when you're ready. You have two minutes.

Madam Witness, how are government agency accounts being opened sa land bank? Ano yung proseso po?

Pakialit po, sir.

Ano po yung proseso para yung isang government... ay makapag-open ng account sa land bank?

Meron pong request na galing po sa kanila. At the same time po, meron din pong approval from the Bureau of Treasury na mag-open po sila ng account sa amin. So once approved na po ito, ay ma-open na po yung account sa land bank. Very

good. Now, sa kaso po ng OVP, sino po yung nag-open na account? Sino po yung pumunta sa banko ninyo para i-open yung account ng OVP?

Ang alam ko po, nag-inquire po yung head po ng agency. Huwag pong

alam ko. Sino po talaga? Sigurado dapat kayo.

Yung head po ng Castivation.

Nila? Opo. Okay. Ano po yung mga present ng dokumento para magpapatunay na sila po yung authorized talaga na mag-open account on behalf of the OBP?

Gaya po, nasabi ko nga po kanina, yung pong request nila na mag-open account. At at the same time, yung approval po ng Bureau of Treasury na sila po ay allowed po mag-open ang account sa amin.

I don't know kung nasa niyo po yung question kanina. Sino po yung person na pumunta doon para mag-presenta na ako'y from OBP at nagpakita ng dokumento at ako'y authorized person to represent the OBP for this account?

Yung head po ng cash division po ng OBP. And

what is your name again? Anong pangalan niya po?

Hindi ko na po ma-recall yung head po. Yung isa po kasi staff niya po yan, si

Miss Queenie. So pagdating niya po doon sa banko, meron po siyang siguradong, siguradong binabanggit ng mga taong point person na para pumunta sa banko para mag-withdraw at sino yung mga signatories, et cetera, et cetera. Tama?

Pakiulit po ang tanong, Your Honor.

Kasi po yung sa cash division, Hindi mo na maalala ang pangalan ng tao ulit?

Yung head

ng cash division, hindi ko na po ma-recall. Okay, sige. Yung head ng cash division, pumunta doon ng

copy ng account. Doon, nagkakaroon na agad ng arrangement para sabihin sa inyo na ang pwede lang mag-withdraw ay si ganito at kasama si ganito.

Wala pong ganong arrangement.

Wala?

Wala pong ganun. O

dapat merong arrangement para malaman ninyo kung sino yung point person ng OBP para tumawag sa inyo at sino ka yung nagde-designate ng point person to coordinate from the OBP to land bank.

I'm sorry po, ang pagka-intindi ko po kung sino po yung in-issue nila ng cheque, ganun po ba?

No, sino yung taong nagsasabi sa land bank na ito lamang ang recognize namin na tumawag. at the day of the withdrawal. At ito lamang ang pwedeng pumirma sa cheque, et cetera, et cetera.

There

has to be one person.

As to authorized signatories po, aware naman po yung agency kung sino po yung mga authorized pumirma. Ngayon po, kung sino po

yung... No, no,

no, sorry. You're listening but you're not hearing me. Sino po yung tao na nagsabi sa land bank na, hey, land bank, ito lamang mga tao ang pwedeng kumontak sa inyo ang pwedeng mag-withdraw, period. Sino yun?

Ang pagkakalam ko po, yun pong sina Asic or Tonio po.

Sila po kasi yung officers po. So did they go

personally sa land bank or through telephone lamang?

Sa pagkakaalala ko po, meron po silang written communication po sa amin.

So how did you know

na sila talaga yun nasa written communication?

Nakipresent po sila ng mga IDs nila. Doon po sa pagkakalala ko po. So they

went

to land back personally?

Yes.

And then they presented documents to prove na they are that person?

Opo. Sorry po, pwede pong mag-bat

in.

Bali po doon sa pagkakalala ko po, sa binibigyan ng dokumento, mayroon na rin pong photocopy ng mga IDs po nila.

Thank

you. Thank you, Senator

Judge Tulfo. Senator Judge Pangilinan is recognized.

Yung cheque na winidraw o pinisenta sa inyo, December 20, 2022. Tama? Ang date? Opo. Opo.

December 20, 2022.

At kinuha yung pera on the same day, December 20.

Opo.

So, kung sabi niyo kanina, unusual yung... Malaking halaga. Unusual din o usual ba yun? Yung ganong halaga, same day naka-date, same day din i-withdraw? Ganon?

Bali nga po. Mabilis ba

yun?

May prior notice po sila, ang agency, na magkakaroon po sila ng ganong encashment. Two days before? Opo. So, yung pong December naman po kasi pwede naman po nilang gawin yun on the same day. Kasi po pag December, mayroong regulation naman po ang Bureau of Treasury kapag po December, hindi na po natin siya inihintay ang 24 hours to 48 hours na ano po. Yes,

but if you combine both, the huge amount which is unusual and the same day dated check and the same day withdrawal, is that usual?

So, tingin ko naman po, usual

naman po siya.

So, the only thing unusual is that it is a huge amount which you've never experienced in your 30 years. Yes,

Your Honor. Okay. And so, tinatawag sa'yo two days before kahit hindi pa handa yung cheque, in other words.

Hindi ko na lang po alam sa side nila.

Two days before. Oh, yeah. Pero posible. Two days before, December 18. 17, hindi pa nahahanda yung cheque, pero ihahanda nila, pininotify na kayo.

Okay.

Maraming salamat. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Judge Pangilinan. Senator Judge Antiveros, for the final round, for your last two questions, I believe, or no more? No more? If there are no other interventions or interjections from the Senator Judges, the Presiding Officer would like... Would like to excuse you already, Ma'am Violeta Constantino.

Thank

you very much, Ma'am, for your time. Salamat po sa inyong kooperasyon. Magandang umaga po.

Mananghalian po muna kayo dyan bago kayo umuwi.

Yes, Senator Judge Pangilinan.

Very

Yes. The gentleman may proceed.

Thank you. About the non-disclosure by covered transactions. We just have to distinguish, para sa interest lang ng mga nagtatanong, ang covered institutions na hindi pwede mag-disclose ang mga bangko

ng

AMLA records. Pero ang AMLA mismo, hindi siya at least the position of the impeachment court. It's not covered by the confidentiality of record. That was

what the chair said earlier. That was contained in the ruling of the

court.

Yes. Thank you, Senator.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you.

With the permission of the parties, it's 11.42 so that we can cut clean. We can pause for lunch and resume at 12.15 for a 30-minute lunch break.

Your Honor, before anything, just a quick manifestation, Your Honor.

Your

Your Honor, if I may be recognized.

Counsel for Respondent is recognized.

Mukhang naiwan po yata ng witness natin itong certification. If I may just turn it over.

Yes.

Kindly give it to the Council for the panel of prosecutors. Your Honor,

may we know what is

the content of the document? Thank you.

Based on popular request, 1230 then. We resume at 12.30 for the next witness of the prosecution in the person of Ms. Nanita Campuzano.

That's okay with us, sir.

From the panel of prosecutors, that's okay?

Yes, that's okay with us, sir.

Then we shall go on recess and shall resume at 12.30.

Representative Chua, kindly call your next witness so that she can situate herself at the witness stand.

Your Honor,

we

are calling our next witness in the person of Ms. Ninita Camposano.

Ms. Ninita Camposano, you are directed to kindly proceed to the witness stand.

Please remain standing. Clerk of Court is directed to subscribe the witness. Put the witness under oath, rather.

Ms. Camposano, please raise your right hand. You, Ninita Camposano, do swear that the evidence you shall give in the case now pending between the Philippines and Vice President Sara Givermanto-Terte shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God.

Kindly speak to the mic, ma'am. Does the stenographer can get your answer?

Yes, Your Honor.

You may be seated, ma'am.

Representative Chua, you are a witness. You may proceed when you're ready with your offer.

Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor, we are offering the testimony of Ms. Ninita Camposano to prove the following, Your Honor. Number one,

na si Ms. Ninita Camposano ay isang reteradong empleyado ng land bank. Department Branch from

May 2022 to September 2022. Ay 24, Your Honor.

Pangalawa, na si Ms. Ninita Campuzano ay dating Department Manager ng Land Bank of the Philippines DepEd Branch.

Ikatlo, Land

Bank of the Philippines DepEd Branch Ang nagproseso ng encashment ng tatlong cheque na nagkakahalaga ng 37.5 million pesos bawat isa. Ang lahat ay pinasok sa account ng Department of Education with

the following checks details, Your Honor. Number 1, Land Bank Check Number 0000.

Dated February 20, 2023. At payable sa isang Mr. Edward D. Fajarda for 37.5 million. Pangalawa, land bank check number 000000964. Dated April 19, 2023.

Payable again sa isang Mr. Edward D. Fajarda for P37.5 million. Ikatlo, land bank check number 0000002250 dated July 11, 2023. Payable sa isang Mr. Edward D. Fajarda for P37.5 million.

Ikaapat, na ang mga nasabing check, Your Honor, ay personal na in-encash ni Mr. Edward Fajarda bilang Special Disbursing Officer ng Department of Education noong February 22, 2023, April 26, 2023, at July 13, 2023.

Kalima, bilang Department Manager ng Land Bank DepEd Branch, si Ms. Camposano ay personal na nakasaksi at nag-oversee ng pag-encash at pagtanggap ng pera mula sa cheque ni Mr. Fajarda.

Kaanim, iba pang mga bagay-bagay na may kinalaman at mahalaga. dito sa impeachment case na may kaugnayan sa Article 1 on confidential funds at may relasyon sa mga nabanggit na dahilan. For comment, Your Honor.

Counsel for the Respondent, Attorney Poa. Thank you and good afternoon, Your Honors. Your Honors, again, for the purpose of expediency, Your Honors, the defense is willing to stipulate on the checks. As well as the details on the face of the check, which would be the dates, the payee, the signatures therein, as well as the dorsal portion and that the checks were verified. It went through the teller and that they were approved, Your Honor.

How about the qualification of the witness as to being able to identify the checks that she was the former department manager and worked at Land Bank from May 22? 2022 to September 2024.

As the former branch manager, we are willing to stipulate as well as her ability to identify these checks, Your Honor. Having

so stipulated, Chair would like for the information of the Senator-Judges, kindly flash as I read the details of the check so that we are in agreement as to what is being stipulated to by the respondent.

First is land bank check number 000000453 payable to Edward D. Fajarda in the amount of 37.5 million dated February 20, 2023 and encast on February 22, 2023. Second is land bank check number 000000964 payable to Edward D. Fajarda in the amount of 37,500,000 pesos dated April 19, 2023 and then cashed on April 26, 2023. And finally, Landbank check number 0000002250 payable to Edward D. Fajarda in the amount of 37.5 million dated July 11, 2023 and encashed on July 13, 2023. The respondent is stipulating as to the authenticity due execution and all the information contained in the face of the check. as well as the dorsal side of the check, including the verification made by the responsible bank officers as regards the payee and the disbursement of the amounts mentioned on the face of the check, as well as all of the stampings in the dorsal side of the check. This is a common exhibit of both parties. On the part, again for the record, on the part of the defense, it's...