ASEANEWS-VP SARA IMPEACHMENT | VP security men face court martial

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THE former commander and deputy commander of the dissolved Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) could face court martial proceedings over their alleged involvement in disbursing confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

A document obtained by The Manila Times from sources inside the office of the Provost Marshal General (PMG) noted that the office is now creating a fact-finding committee to investigate the involvement of former VPSPG Commander Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and his deputy commander, Col. Dennis Nolasco, over the disbursements.

Two ranking military officials confirmed the authenticity of the document.

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The PMG is tasked to conduct investigations to establish whether there is probable cause for them to be subjected to a general court martial, which would try the respondents based on the information and evidence held by the PMG, which would act as the prosecutor.

The current Provost Marshal General is Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Marcelino of the Philippine Marines.

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The undated document also said that due to the impact of the issue, the PMG found it “appropriate and proper to propose … the creation of a fact-finding committee to investigate … the subject officers.”

The source also said that under instructions from AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr., both Lachica and Nolasco are on “floating status” due to the investigation.

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It was during the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government on Nov. 25, 2024, that Lachica and Nolasco were mentioned in relation to the confidential funds in both agencies then headed by Vice President Sara Duterte.

Special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta of the OVP said P125 million in confidential funds were disbursed to Lachica on Dec. 20, 2022.

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Edward Fajarda, the former SDO of DepEd, said he turned over P37.5 million to Nolasco, who was then acting as security officer of the DepEd.

Both Acosta and Fajarda claimed that Lachica and Nolasco, respectively, were the ones who managed the allocations.

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Meanwhile, an AFP source said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines Security and Protection Group (ASPG) has yet to be activated, as the published order which transferred the officers and enlisted personnel of the disbanded VPSPG from the Presidential Security Command to the AFP General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command still included Lachica.

The VPSPG was disbanded on Feb. 6 and is set to be replaced by the ASPG, which will be tasked to give protection and security not only to the vice president but also to other VIPs as approved by the Defense Department.

The source added that they are now waiting for an order stating who will be the new commander of the ASPG.

The Office of the Vice President has yet to respond to queries sent by The Manila Times over the disbandment of the VPSPG, but it told reporters that the vice president has already been briefed on the matter.

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It, however, did not respond to queries on the AFP’s investigation of Lachica and Nolasco.

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