The Philippine Army (PA) was not aware that the certifications issued by three of its officers to the Office of Vice President (OVP) Sara Duterte will be used to justify the use of confidential fund by the Department of Education (DepEd), a ranking military officer said on Friday, Oct. 18.
Col. Louie Dema-ala, PA spokesperson, said the certification given to the DepEd for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-led Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) in 2023 only proved the events were successfully held.
The certifications were issued and signed by Army Civil-Military Operations (CMO) staff officers Col. Manaros Boransing II, Lt. Col. Carlos Sangdaan Jr., and Col. Magtangol Panopio after the DepEd apparently requested for such documents.
“The certifications issued by the said officers were deemed regular and these only certifies that indeed Youth Leadership Summits were successfully conducted at the different barangays of their area of responsibility,” Dema-ala said.
“However, said officers have no knowledge that these documents will be used to justify CF expenses of DepEd,” he stressed.
At the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Thursday, OCt. 17, former DepEd undersecretary, chief of staff, and spokesman Michael Poa was scrutinized for using certifications from the AFP to justify DepEd’s spending of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs).
The certifications had to do with the YLS conducted by the AFP in 2023 when Duterte was still serving as the department’s secretary. Duterte was the DepEd secretary from June 30, 2022 to July 19, 2024.
Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said the AFP’s programs had no direct connection with DepEd’s confidential funds.
Poa clarified that the certifications were meant to show that DepEd had provided information to the AFP about vulnerable areas where seminars were needed, but conceded that this was not clearly connected to DepEd’s spending.
As for the Army, Dema-ala said its officers are strictly directed to follow the rules of the military, particularly on the use of public funds.
“The Philippine Army fully supports transparency and accountability in the use of public funds and remains committed to adhering to all regulations governing the use of agency resources,” he said.
The House committee has been investigating the alleged misuse of the confidential funds of DepEd under the leadership of Duterte, a claim that the Vice President has vehemently denied.