LandBank Execs Flag P612M Duterte Withdrawals as Unusual

In a recent ANC 24/7 report on Day 10 of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, former LandBank executives described the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education's cash withdrawals as highly unusual, setting the stage for deeper scrutiny of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds. The proceedings drew immediate attention from communities across the archipelago, where families wonder how such large sums might have supported classrooms or health centers instead of vanishing into cash transactions. Senator-Judge Bam Aquino pressed former LandBank manager Violeta Constantino on whether the bank reported the unusual transactions to authorities under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, only for her to invoke confidentiality rules that shield further details from public view.

Day 10: LandBank Execs Flag P612M Duterte Withdrawals as Unusual

Manila, Philippines – August 2, 2026 — The House prosecution opened its evidence presentation on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment this week, and the testimony of two retired LandBank branch managers immediately put the spotlight on P612.5 million in cash withdrawals tied to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

Day 10 Developments at the Senate Impeachment Court

The House prosecution panel opened its presentation of evidence on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment this Wednesday at the Philippine Senate in Manila. Two retired LandBank branch managers took the stand before the full Senate sitting as an impeachment court, with Presiding Officer Francis Escudero overseeing proceedings that began at 10 a.m.

Rep. Joel Chua of Manila's 3rd district led the direct examination, while Rep. Leila de Lima delivered an opening statement on the need for conviction before the court directed focus to witness testimony. The session highlighted how these withdrawals occurred while Vice President Duterte simultaneously held the DepEd secretary post from 2022 to 2023.

Rep. Leila de Lima's opening statement was cut short by the court, which said witnesses should testify on these matters, shifting attention quickly to the bank executives who handled the transactions. This ruling kept the focus on concrete evidence rather than extended arguments, a move that resonated with teachers in provincial schools who have long awaited clearer answers on education budgets. Presiding Officer Francis Escudero later ruled that prosecution evidence must conclude before the defense presents its case, establishing a clear sequence that could stretch the trial into multiple weeks.

Senator-Judge Juan Miguel Zubiri raised a request to move start time from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. due to traffic, prompting the court to adjust future sessions while still committing to a 10 a.m. resumption next Monday. Such practical concerns reflect the daily realities faced by ordinary Filipinos traveling to witness proceedings or simply following updates from their barangays. The simultaneous roles held by Vice President Duterte as both vice president and DepEd secretary in 2022-2023 added another layer, reminding viewers how one official's decisions can ripple through entire departments serving millions of students.

Unusual Withdrawals Testimony from LandBank Executives

Violeta Constantino, former manager of the Shaw Boulevard branch, testified that Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta encashed four checks of P125 million each, totaling P500 million, between December 2022 and July 2023. Nenita Camposano, former manager of the DepEd branch, detailed three checks of P37.5 million each, totaling P112.5 million, encashed by DepEd special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda from February to July 2023.

Both executives told the court that such large cash withdrawals stood out as unusual compared to standard transactions. Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo pressed Constantino on this point, and she confirmed the scale raised red flags. Constantino added that original check copies had already been shredded, limiting further verification.

Camposano noted Fajarda completed the transactions without documents proving his designation and exited through a fire exit after each one. These details reached ordinary Filipino taxpayers in barangays across Quezon City and Cebu, who now question how public money flows through government offices.

Impact on Filipinos: What P612.5 Million Means for Public Services

The P612.5 million in withdrawals could have funded thousands of new classrooms across public schools, where shortages continue to force students into overcrowded sessions or makeshift learning spaces in provinces like Cebu and Davao. Ordinary families in Quezon City often share stories of children studying under leaking roofs or sharing one textbook among several classmates, making the scale of these cash transactions feel especially personal when weighed against DepEd's ongoing needs for infrastructure and supplies.

Teacher shortages remain acute in many regions, with the same funds potentially covering salaries or training programs that would ease the burden on overworked educators who already stretch limited resources. The symbolism of large cash withdrawals at a time when students lack basic materials highlights a disconnect that communities feel deeply, as parents in rural areas wonder why education budgets seem to evaporate before reaching the classroom level.

DepEd programs for learning continuity and student support have faced repeated delays due to funding gaps, turning the P612.5 million figure into a stark reminder of opportunities lost for the next generation. In barangays from Davao to Baguio, the cash-heavy nature of the transactions during this period evokes frustration among families who prioritize collective welfare and see public money as a shared trust rather than a private flow.

Defense's Approach During Cross-Examination

Defense lawyer Michael Poa stipulated the validity of the bank checks presented by Constantino and chose not to cross-examine her. During brief questioning of Camposano, Poa clarified that the fire exit led directly to the adjacent DepEd building, offering a safer route, and Camposano agreed with the description.

This measured response avoided prolonged confrontation but left key questions about documentation and cash handling unanswered for families in Davao and Baguio who rely on transparent use of education funds. The approach signaled the defense's strategy to limit damage while reserving stronger rebuttals for later witnesses.

Poa's stipulation on the checks kept the focus narrow, yet it also highlighted how the defense may lean on procedural points rather than addressing the broader concerns of communities watching the trial unfold. Families in provinces continue to follow these exchanges closely, hoping for clarity that could influence how future budgets support local schools and health services.

Subpoenas Issued and Next Witnesses Expected

The impeachment court granted subpoenas for former Commission on Audit state auditor Roderick Wamil and current state auditor Celine May Del Campo from the COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Office, along with Marivic Pareja of the House Legislative Information Resources Management Department. Senator-Judge Panfilo Lacson called for an expert witness on confidential fund procedures, and both sides confirmed they hold reserve witnesses ready.

House prosecutor Lorenz Defensor described the LandBank testimony as merely an appetizer ahead of fuller evidence. These upcoming testimonies will directly affect public school teachers and students in provinces who depend on DepEd resources, as any proven misuse could reshape budget priorities under the Department of Budget and Management.

Ethics Complaint Subplot Involving Senator Pia Cayetano

Separately, women's rights advocates, academics, and feminists filed an ethics complaint against Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano over a spliced social media video featuring Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno. The prosecution panel labeled the video misleading and a breach of Cayetano's oath of impartiality as a senator-judge.

This side development adds tension inside the Senate chamber and echoes concerns among civic groups in Manila about maintaining fairness in high-stakes proceedings. It underscores how political optics can influence public perception of the entire impeachment process.

Philippine Context of Confidential Funds and Impeachment

Confidential and intelligence funds have long sparked debate in Philippine politics, especially when agencies like the OVP and DepEd handle large sums without detailed public reporting. The current trial tests accountability mechanisms under the 1987 Constitution, with the Senate acting as the sole judge and jury.

For jeepney drivers in Cebu and sari-sari store owners in Quezon City, these funds represent money that could support community programs instead of disappearing into cash withdrawals. The bayanihan spirit of collective responsibility clashes with perceptions of unchecked power, eroding trust in institutions like COMELEC and the Philippine National Police when scandals surface.

The simultaneous holding of the vice presidency and DepEd secretary post by Vice President Duterte in 2022-2023 placed unique oversight responsibilities on one office, amplifying calls for clearer rules on how confidential funds move through education agencies. This context reminds Filipinos that every withdrawal carries weight for the students and teachers who depend on steady resources rather than opaque transactions.

Reactions and Responses: Prosecution, Defense, and the Public

House prosecutor Lorenz Defensor called the LandBank testimony just an appetizer, signaling the prosecution's confidence that more substantial evidence lies ahead in the coming weeks. This stance has energized supporters of accountability who view the trial as a necessary step toward restoring faith in how public funds serve communities.

Spokesperson Regie Tongol cautioned that it has yet to be established the withdrawals were confidential funds, a measured note that keeps the focus on verified facts rather than assumptions. Defense lawyer Michael Poa's stipulation strategy avoided direct challenges to the bank records, leaving room for later rebuttals while communities in the provinces continue to weigh the implications for their local services.

Social media and civic reactions have ranged from calls for full transparency to concerns about political motivations, with many Filipinos expressing hope that the subpoenas for COA officials will bring concrete answers. These responses reflect the deep investment ordinary citizens feel in the outcome, as the trial touches on values of honesty and shared responsibility that define daily life across the country.

What to Watch for When the Trial Resumes Next Monday

The court will reconvene next Monday at 10 a.m. after a caucus to adjust the schedule, with prosecution evidence required to conclude before the defense presents its case. Senator-Judge Juan Miguel Zubiri noted traffic concerns that prompted the slight delay in start times.

Filipino communities from Davao to Baguio will monitor whether COA officials can trace how the P612.5 million was spent and whether it truly qualified as confidential. Stronger evidence could restore faith in government transparency, while gaps may deepen cynicism among OFWs and students who expect leaders to prioritize public welfare over political survival.

The trial's resumption at 10 a.m. next Monday will bring COA officials like Roderick Wamil and Celine May Del Campo into focus, as their testimonies could clarify procedures that affect every DepEd allocation nationwide. Communities remain engaged, watching closely for signs that the process will uphold the collective trust placed in public institutions.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.