How’s Lachica, VP Duterte’s military aide who got P125-M funds?

MANILA, Philippines — Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, the former chief of Vice President Sara Duterte’s security team, remains on an “unattached or unassigned status,” the Philippine Army said after his name cropped up at her impeachment trial as a questionable handler of her confidential funds.

Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala told the Inquirer on Tuesday that Lachica, who was relieved as chief of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) on Oct. 4, 2025, remained posted at headquarters. He was replaced by Lt. Col. Joseph Israel Eleosida.

Lachica’s name first came up in the 2024 House investigations after Gina Acosta, a former special disbursing officer (SDO) at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), testified that she turned over bags containing over P125 million in confidential funds to Lachica in December 2022.

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At the time, Acosta maintained she had no idea how the money was later used. Lawmakers then questioned why OVP confidential funds were entrusted to security officers rather than kept with the more accountable SDOs.

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READ: Witness: Security chief got P125M on VP’s order

At Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, Acosta testified that the Vice President personally instructed her to release the money to Lachica.

Unanswered questions

Lachica was never compelled to appear at the House hearings, and the House prosecution team in the Senate impeachment trial has yet to decide if he would be called to testify.

The prosecution contends that the transfer was irregular because Lachica was neither an OVP employee nor its designated SDO.

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READ: Sara Duterte files another perjury case vs Madriaga

Commission on Audit (COA) supervising auditor Xylene Mae del Campo also testified in the trial that handing over the cash to Lachica disregarded government rules on confidential funds, specifically Joint Circular 2015-01.

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Military probe

After it emerged at the House inquiries that Lachica and another VPSPG official, Col. Dennis Nolasco, allegedly both handled OVP confidential funds, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would investigate the two officers for possible administrative liability.

The AFP has yet to reveal any result of its investigation. /cb