The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday, Nov. 26, that it will cooperate with the House of Representatives (HOR) after two military personnel were dragged in an investigation on the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence fund by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd).
If lawmakers request the presence of Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica and Colonel Dennis Nolasco in the House inquiry, the AFP leadership will have to obey them, military spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.
“Kung ipapatawag sila sa imbestigasyon, makikipagtulungan po ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (If they will be summoned in the investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will cooperate),” she stated.
During a hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday, Nov. 25, OVP special disbursement officer (SDO) Gina Acosta reportedly said that the disbursement of millions worth of confidential funds by the OVP was left to the discretion of Lachica, the commander of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).
Meanwhile, former Department of Education (DepEd) SDO Edward Fajarda previously said a certain Col. Dennis Nolasco, a security officer who was assigned to the VPSPG, was responsible for disbursing DepEd's confidential funds amounting to millions of pesos.
VP Duterte had served as the DepEd secretary until she announced her resignation in June.
Nolasco and Lachica are confirmed active members of the AFP, according to military spokesperson Padilla. However, she said Nolasco was no longer connected with the VPSPG as he is undergoing a military schooling.
“What I can categorically say are they are active officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Padilla said.
She also said that the sole mandate of the VPSPG, which is under the direct supervision of the Presidential Security Command (PSC), is to provide security to the Vice President and her immediate family throughout her term in office, no more, no less.
“That’s the role that each of the personnel will play,” Padilla noted.