Vice President Sara Duterte gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — House leaders on Sunday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to stop what they called her "budol theatrics" and address the issues surrounding her use of confidential funds when she was Education Secretary.

Lawmakers this week questioned the Department of Education over its use of certifications from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to justify P15.54 million confidential fund expenses.

In a House hearing on Thursday, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said the Commission on Audit disallowed P15.54 million out of the P112.5 million confidential fund expenses of DepEd in 2023.

Luistro said Col. Manaros Boransing II, Lt. Col. Carlos Sangdaan Jr., and Col. Magtangol Panopio confirmed issuing certifications to DepEd for the AFP-led Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) in 2023.

DepEd Undersecretary Ret. Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin said he was the one who requested the document from the four infantry divisions, upon the order of former chief of staff Michael Poa. But he denied that the DepEd spent funds on the AFP-led youth programs.

DepEd grilled on use of AFP certifications to justify P15.54-M expenses

"Tama na ang pambubudol at pagpapalusot. Naghihintay ang publiko ng malinaw na sagot tungkol sa hindi mo ipinaliliwanag na paggamit ng confidential funds. Pumalag maging ang militar dahil pinalabas ninyong nakinabang rin sila sa pagpondo sa YLS kahit hindi," Khonghun said in the release.

In a separate release, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro also called for an investigation into the DepEd's use of confidential funds as well as the alleged distribution of cash envelopes.

 "The allegations of cash gifts and misuse of funds at DepEd are deeply troubling and demand a thorough investigation. It is crucial to uphold integrity and transparency in our education system, which is fundamental to the development of our youth," she said.

Last month, former undersecretary Gloria Mercado told a House panel that cash given to her by the office of then-Education Secretary Duterte could have been meant to influence the bidding for supply contracts. 

Ex-procurement official claims to have received cash from then DepEd chief Duterte

For Castro, "The revelations by DepEd officials about receiving cash envelopes from high-ranking officials are alarming. Such practices, if true, constitute a serious breach of public trust and must be addressed with utmost urgency."

"The education sector is already grappling with significant issues, including the perennial shortage of classrooms. Instead of addressing these challenges, the alleged corruption further undermines the quality of education that Filipino students deserve," the lawmaker added. —with Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

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