Former LandBank Branch Manager Testifies on VP's Confidential Funds

Violeta Constantino, a former official of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) who spent 32 years in the banking industry before her retirement, testified before the Senate impeachment court. In her testimony, Constantino said she served as department manager of LandBank’s Shaw Boulevard branch in Mandaluyong City, which handled accounts of several government agencies, including the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Constantino was called by the House prosecution panel to testify on the processing, documentation and withdrawal of confidential funds coursed through the branch. Her testimony forms part of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence under Article I of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, which alleges the misuse, misappropriation and irregular disbursement of confidential funds. During her testimony, Constantino said she personally oversaw the encashment of four LandBank checks worth P125 million each, or a total of P500 million, by OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta between December 2022 and July 2023. Constantino described the withdrawals of such large amounts of cash as “unusual.” Asked by Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo whether such transactions by a government agency were considered normal and whether she had encountered similar transactions during her 32-year career at LandBank, Constantino said she had not. “Wala po. Unusual po ito,” she said. Constantino also testified that she was not aware at the time that the cash withdrawals would be used for confidential funds. — MCG, GMA News