OVP Spokesman Michael Poa (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Speaker's office, Facebook)

Vice President Sara Duterte had direct control over the confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) of the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as agency secretary. 

Thus, said former DepEd undersecretary, chief of staff, and spokesman Michael Poa during the hearing Thursday, Oct. 17 of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability. 

Poa, who had been serving as Office of the Vice President (OVP) spokesman since Vice President Duterte stepped down from DepEd last July 19, distanced himself from direct involvement with CIFs and said that it was the lady official who was responsible for managing tthe particular funds.

He explained during the interpellation of Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores that while he was tasked with responding to an audit observation memorandum issued by the Commission on Audit (COA), he had no role in the decision-making process for the CIFs. 

“It would probably be the Secretary or the ones responsible for the confidential funds,” Poa told Flroes. 

“The secretary and the SDO are the only ones that are privy,” he added, referring to Vice President Duterte and DepEd’s Senior Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda. 

Chaired by Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, the good government panel is carrying out an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged misuse of the secret funds by the OVP and DepEd. 

On Thursday, Poa was scrutinized for using certifications from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to justify DepEd’s spending of CIFs. The certifications had to do with the youth leadership summits (YLS) conducted by the AFP in 2023. 

Flores, a member of the House "Young Guns" bloc, flagged this inconsistency and pointed out that the AFP’s programs had no direct connection with DepEd’s confidential funds. 

“You are using certifications from another agency, which didn’t spend a peso from your office, to justify your expenses. It’s confusing,” Flores said. 

Poa admitted he was unaware that the AFP’s activities were unrelated to DepEd’s confidential funds when he submitted the documents to COA. 

He 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. 

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“It all boils down to the fact that you are using a certification of an activity of a different agency. It’s wrong, di ba (right)?” Flores asked. 

Poa acknowledged the confusion but reiterated that he followed the process based on the documents available to him. 

“I got the certifications, I got the documents evidencing payment, the DEPs, which are the acknowledgment receipts, and I submitted to COA,” Poa said. 

When pressed on who had the final say on the use of the confidential funds, Poa pointed to Vice President Duterte and Fajarda.

Vice President Duterte was the DepEd secretary from June 30, 2022 to July 19, 2024.