OVP Gym Bag Cash Withdrawal in VP Sara Duterte Trial Day 10

In an ANC 24/7 report from the Senate on Day 10 of the historic impeachment trial, former LandBank branch manager Violeta Constantino detailed how Office of the Vice President staff used three to four gym bags and duffel bags to transport P125 million in cash from the bank's backroom area. The testimony, delivered on July 29, 2026, marks a pivotal moment in the first impeachment trial of a sitting Philippine vice president, with implications that reach every barangay from Luzon to Mindanao.

LandBank Manager Reveals OVP Officers Used Gym Bags to Carry P125 Million in Cash in Day 10 of VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

Manila, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court convened Wednesday for Day 10 of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, hearing explosive testimony from former LandBank executives about massive cash withdrawals that prosecutors say reveal a pattern of questionable handling of public funds. The proceedings center on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which alleges the misuse, questionable liquidation, and systematic misappropriation of P612.5 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

Violeta Constantino Testifies About the Gym Bag Withdrawals

Violeta Constantino, former branch manager of LandBank's Shaw Boulevard branch and a 32-year veteran of the bank, served as the prosecution's first witness for Article I. She told the Senate impeachment court that OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta withdrew P125 million in cash through four separate checks between December 2022 and July 2023. Constantino described how OVP officers used three to four gym bags or duffel bags to physically carry the cash out of the bank's backroom area, a method she said was unprecedented in her three decades of service.

Constantino said that any cash transaction exceeding P500,000 is typically considered unusual at LandBank, making the P125 million withdrawal 250 times larger than that standard threshold. When asked by senator-judges whether she had ever encountered such a large cash withdrawal before, she replied simply, "First time po." She explained in Filipino: "Usually po kasi kaya naging unusual pa sa akin kasi cash po siya kinukuha" — meaning that what made the transaction particularly unusual was that the funds were withdrawn in physical cash rather than through standard check or online banking procedures.

Despite the unusual nature of the transaction, Constantino clarified that the bank processed the withdrawals because all required documentation was presented and the account maintained sufficient funds. "We didn't have any doubts because we knew the transaction was legitimate," she said, adding that the bank followed its standard verification protocols before releasing the funds.

Nenita Camposano's Account of DepEd Withdrawals

Former LandBank DepEd branch manager Nenita Camposano also testified on Day 10, providing corroborating testimony about large cash withdrawals by the Department of Education. Camposano described a P37.5 million DepEd cash withdrawal as unusual, noting that government agencies typically transact amounts around P10 million in a single cash withdrawal. She further testified that an ex-DepEd official left through a fire exit after encashing P112.5 million in checks at her branch, an exit route she said was highly irregular.

The two testimonies together paint a picture of large-scale cash movements from government accounts that prosecutors argue raise serious questions about fund management and oversight. Both former bank managers emphasized that while the transactions were processed according to standard documentation requirements, the scale and method of withdrawal were unlike anything they had experienced in their careers.

Senator-Judges Weigh In During Proceedings

Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano engaged directly with the testimony, posing an important legal question to the proceedings. "Just because it's unusual, doesn't mean it's illegal," Cayetano observed, citing his own experience with similar transactions during his tenure as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. His comment highlighted a key distinction the impeachment court must ultimately resolve: whether unusual cash handling practices, without more, amount to the high crimes and offenses required for conviction.

Senate President and Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero issued a critical procedural ruling during the day's session. Escudero ruled that the prosecution must finish presenting ALL of its evidence across all four Articles of Impeachment before the defense begins its presentation. He cited the 2012 impeachment trial of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona as precedent — the only Philippine impeachment trial that reached a verdict. Senator Bam Aquino had suggested an alternative approach where prosecution and defense would present evidence on a per-article basis, alternating between the two sides. However, Escudero ruled that since no agreement existed between the parties, proceedings would continue under the traditional format.

Jurisdictional Questions Over Senator Participation

A separate legal question emerged during Day 10 surrounding the participation of Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada. Both senators are now under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, the Philippines' anti-graft court. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that whatever decision the Senate impeachment court reaches regarding their participation will not prevail, as jurisdiction over the two senators now rests with the Sandiganbayan. This development adds another layer of complexity to an already unprecedented trial.

Prosecution Highlights Pattern Across Witnesses

Prosecution spokesman Robert Ace Barbers noted what he called a "striking coincidence" between Constantino's testimony and the earlier congressional testimony of Ramil Madriaga, who appeared before the House of Representatives in April 2026 to discuss similar cash withdrawal patterns. Barbers said the alignment of details between the two witnesses — both describing large-scale cash withdrawals, unusual handling procedures, and specific individuals involved — strengthens the prosecution's case on how confidential funds moved through the banking system.

Implications for the 2028 Presidential Race

Vice President Sara Duterte, who was twice impeached, faces allegations that include grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., corruption, and betrayal of public trust. The daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, she is the first sitting vice president in Philippine history to face an impeachment trial. The outcome of these proceedings is widely expected to shape the 2028 presidential race, with potential to either strengthen or fracture political alliances across the country. The Marcos-Duterte political rift, which has divided key regions since the 2022 elections, hangs in the balance as the trial progresses.

What This Means for Ordinary Filipinos

For families in barangays from Quezon City to Davao, the trial is about more than political maneuvering. The P612.5 million in confidential funds at the heart of Article I represents resources that could have been directed toward classrooms, health services, and livelihood programs. Teachers under the Department of Education, OFWs who send remittances home, and ordinary Filipinos who rely on government services are watching closely as the proceedings test whether public institutions can hold their leaders accountable. In sari-sari stores and jeepney terminals across the nation, conversations about the trial reflect a deeper question: can the systems meant to safeguard public funds truly protect the interests of the Filipino people?

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer