Duterte trial: Acosta ‘stupid in the name of blind loyalty’ – Tulfo

MANILA, Philippines – Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo on Monday characterized former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta as “stupid in the name of blind loyalty.”

This came after Acosta repeatedly affirmed that she entrusted the OVP’s confidential funds (CFs) and proof of their use to Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group officer Col. Raymund Lachica.

“Naging stupido kayo sa ngalan ng isang tinatawag na blind loyalty. Nakapikit kung ano yung sinasabi sa’yo ng nakakataas; sinusunod mo na lang. Stupido ka pa rin. Pero in the name of blind loyalty,” Tulfo said.

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(You have become stupid in the name of something called blind loyalty. You are blind to what your superiors tell you; you just follow them. You are still stupid. But in the name of blind loyalty.)

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During his interjection, Tulfo asked whether Acosta questioned Lachica, especially after Lachica listed seemingly suspicious names as recipients of the CFs.

“For a normal person, if he was given as an SDO, like you, a list of names of informants Belat, Pagong (turtle), and Pusa (cat), you would be shocked. ‘What is this, Colonel? This doesn’t seem right; this is outrageous.’ Isn’t it? For a normal person?” he said in Filipino.

“When you see a name like that: Belat, Pagong, Pusa, etc… You’ll be surprised, right?” he said, pointing out that Belat is one letter away from being the Bisaya word for the female reproductive organ.

READ: Like Madriaga, Acosta says 4 bags used for OVP’s P125-M secret funds

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READ: Duterte trial: ‘Scam’ remark on OVP secret funds stricken from record 

Though Acosta said she would be shocked, she doubled down, saying she relied on Lachica’s information.

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Tulfo also brought up acknowledgment receipts that had the same signature, asking if Acosta found it questionable.

Acosta said: “I asked Col. Lachica to reply. And his answer to me was, ‘Ma’am Gina, those are sensitive information, Ma’am Gina. Also, it is confidential in nature.'”

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She also explained that her trust was grounded in the fact that Lachica was the one who implemented confidential activities. /mcm