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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace takes swipe at Dutertes over 'ghost students' in DepEd's voucher program

Palace takes swipe at Dutertes over 'ghost students' in DepEd's voucher program

Published Mar 28, 2025 06:41 am

Malacañang has once again took a swipe at the Dutertes, this time over the Department of Education's (DepEd) voucher program anomaly.

Screenshot 2025-03-28 133852.png
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro (RTVM)

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said with the potential recovery of about P65 million from the ghost students scheme on DepEd's voucher program, the agency "will not be put to dumpster."

She highlighted that based on the investigation, the ghost student anomaly started in 2021 to 2023, noting that the incidents took place under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte and leadership of then DepEd chief, Vice President Sara Duterte.

"Tandaan po natin na itong mga ghost students na 'to ay nagsimula noong 2021 to 2022 at 2022 to 2023, ito po ay panahon ni dating pangulong Duterte at panahon noong naging DepEd Secretary si VP Sara (Let us remember that these ghost students started in 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023, these are during the time of former president Duterte and the time when VP Sara was the DepEd secretary)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Friday, March 28.

"So, with this result, we can now say that DepEd will not be put to dumpster," she added.

The Palace official even questioned whether an investigation would be conducted if current DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara did not take over.

"Kung nagkataon po kaya na hindi pa po siya ang naging pinuno nito, baka hindi pa po naimbestigahan at hindi natin mare-recover ang P65 million na pondo muila sa mga ghost students (If by chance he was not the leader of this, the investigation might not have taken place, and we might not have recovered the P65 million fund from the ghost students)," Castro said.

According to Castro, the DepEd has given an ultimatum and demand letter to the schools involved in the anomaly.

The DepEd is expected to recover around P65 million from 38 schools that were flagged for their "ghost students" under the controversial senior high school voucher program.

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte Ghost students voucher program Department of Education Rodrigo Duterte
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