The Armed Forces of the Philippines has relieved Colonel Raymund Dante Lachica, the officer who once led Vice President Sara Duterte‘s security group, following allegations that he was involved in the transfer of ₱125 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2022.
Lachica, who headed the AFP Security and Protection Group (ASPG)—formerly called the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG)—was reassigned to the Philippine Army on October 4, 2024, according to an AFP statement. The military said the move was made “in view of an existing case filed before the Office of the Ombudsman involving Colonel Lachica and former VPSPG deputy commander Colonel Dennis Nolasco,” and that the reassignment was meant to “maintain the efficiency and professionalism” of the unit’s operations.
The Office of the Vice President said it was informed of Lachica’s relief only after he received the order, adding that “no explanation was given” by the AFP. The OVP nonetheless thanked Lachica for his service, describing him as a professional officer who ensured the Vice President’s safety throughout his tenure.
Lachica’s name first surfaced during a House inquiry into the OVP’s confidential fund spending. Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta testified under oath that Duterte personally authorized her to release ₱125 million in confidential funds to Lachica in December 2022. Acosta said she handed the money to him based on the Vice President’s directive, adding that she trusted Lachica because he had been recommended by Duterte herself.
Lawmakers questioned the transaction, noting that it violated Presidential Decree 1445, which bars disbursing officers from delegating their duties. Acosta maintained that she acted on Duterte’s instruction and in good faith.
The controversy has since widened into a broader scrutiny of how confidential and intelligence funds were spent under Duterte’s watch—both at the OVP and the Department of Education, which she simultaneously headed. Duterte has denied any misuse, calling the congressional investigation politically motivated and part of a larger effort to build an impeachment case against her.
