Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel (PPAB)

Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel expressed concerns over the alleged misuse of P112.5 million in confidential funds by the Department of Education (DepEd) under Vice President Sara Duterte, which were reportedly poured into youth seminars.

Pimentel, an assistant minority leader in the Commission on Appointments (CA), questioned how such a large amount could be justified for events that did not involve too many participants.

“Pagpapakain lang ng almost 3,000 students, uubusin ba natin ng P112.5 million? Kahit na tatlong buwan silang mag-hotel, hindi maubos ang P112.5 million,” Pimentel pointed out during the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

(For feeding almost 3,000 students, will we spend P112.5 million? Even if they stay in a hotel for three months, P112.5 million will not be used up.)

The veteran lawmaker cited the audit observation memorandums (AOMs) from the Commission on Audit (COA), which looked into the cash advances and liquidation reports of the summits. 

Findings from the AOMs raised concerns about the large sum used, sans supporting documentation such as receipts and photos. 

Pimentel specifically cited the AOMs dated Feb. 1 and Aug. 8, both in 2024, which were addressed to DepEd’s special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda.

He said Fajarda was responsible for a cash advance of P75 million and its liquidation. 

Since the official was absent from the hearing, Pimentel moved to issue a show-cause order to compel Fajarda to attend the next hearing.

The National Unity Party (NUP) stalwart also questioned whether or not the youth summits actually took place. 

He noted that based on the liquidation documents submitted to COA, the only certifications included were from military officials who claimed that several Youth Leadership Summits were conducted.

One certification stated that 531 participants took part in eight activities, another mentioned 205 youth participants, while one more cited 860 participants in nine summits.

Pimentel, however, was unconvinced as he expressed disbelief over the program’s legitimacy. He said the certifications were insufficient to justify such large expenditures.

In response, former DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa clarified that the youth summits were not directly conducted by DepEd. He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) took charge of the summits as part of their advocacy against insurgency.

“The Youth Leadership Summit is not something that DepEd had conducted, but actually ‘yung mismong nag-certify po (but it was actually certified) from the AFP,” said Poa.

Poa, who also served as chief of staff of DepEd, is currently serving as the spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President (OVP). He resigned from his DepEd role a month after Duterte stepped down as secretary of the agency.

Even with the clarification, Pimentel remained skeptical as he asserted that confidential funds are still taxpayers’ money.

“So that is why this committee would want to know where the money went because it is very clear, this is just on paper,” he said.

“Pero ang totoo po niyan, may pinuntahan ho ‘yung P112.5 million (But the truth is, the P112.5 million went to something),” he stressed.