TWO Army colonels testified on Tuesday in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, that they were unaware that the certification they issued to the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s term as Education secretary would be used as supporting documents for the liquidation of the agency’s P112.5 million confidential funds for 2023.
Col. Manaros Boransing II said the certification he prepared was only intended to confirm the conduct of the Army’s Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) program and its information, education, and communication activities. The document was issued upon the request of then-Education Undersecretary Nolasco Mempin, a retired military major general.
When Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asked whether he knew that the certification would be used to support the liquidation of DepEd’s confidential funds, Boransing replied, ‘I did not know that, sir.’
Boransing explained that he prepared the certification based on the instruction of his former commander, retired Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray. ‘He told me to write the certification, but he did not provide any reason,’ he testified.
Boransing emphasized that the activities covered by the certification were regular programs of the Army and were funded through its annual budget. He added, ‘We checked, and no funds were released to us by other government agencies, particularly DepEd.’
Boransing said he only learned about other military officers issuing similar certifications when he attended a House investigation into the alleged misuse of confidential funds by DepEd and the Office of the Vice President (OVP). He recalled that officers from the 5th, 7th, and 9th Infantry Divisions had also testified that they issued similar documents.
In addition, another Army officer, Col. Magtangol Panopio, testified that he was surprised to discover that a certification he issued merely to confirm the conduct of Youth Leadership Summits had been used by DepEd as supporting documentation for P15.54 million in confidential fund expenditures allegedly spent on rewards.
Panopio said he only learned during a House investigation on October 17, 2024, that his December 5, 2023 certification had been included in DepEd’s response to a Commission on Audit (COA) observation.
‘We were surprised because our certification was only meant to confirm that we conducted the Youth Leadership Summit. We did not certify anything about money or funds,’ Panopio told the Impeachment Court.
He clarified that the certification only confirmed that the Youth Leadership Summit activities were actually conducted within the area of responsibility of the Seventh Infantry ‘Kaugnay’ Division in 2023.
‘As far as I’m concerned, the only thing I confirmed was that the Youth Leadership Summit activities within the 7th Infantry Division’s area of responsibility were conducted during that year,’ he said.
Panopio stated that he had no knowledge of why DepEd used his certification in relation to confidential fund expenditures. ‘I cannot answer on behalf of DepEd. I can only answer for our office,’ he said.
He explained that issuing certifications for activities conducted with partner government agencies was a normal practice within the Armed Forces.
‘Our activities in the Armed Forces [AFP] take collaboration with other agencies. So it is, I think, normal for our agency to issue certifications that such activities happened in collaboration with different agencies of the government, Your Honor,’ he said.
Before Panopio’s testimony, the defense agreed that no confidential funds were transferred from DepEd to the Army or the Armed Forces for the Youth Leadership Summit and information, education, and communication activities covered by the military certifications.
However, the defense did not agree that the military officers were unaware that their certifications would later be used by DepEd in responding to COA audit findings.
Poa as next witness
HOUSE of Representatives leaders, meanwhile, described former DepEd chief of staff Michael Wesley Poa as a key witness in Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying his testimony could help clarify unresolved issues regarding the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
Poa is expected to take the witness stand on Wednesday on matters related to his time at DepEd, although he may invoke lawyer-client privilege regarding issues connected to his current role as Duterte’s counsel.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said Poa was a central figure in the proceedings because of his previous roles as DepEd undersecretary, chief of staff, and spokesperson during Duterte’s term as Education secretary.
‘He is a central figure. Whether Attorney Poa is considered a hostile witness or not, I believe he is one of the key figures in this impeachment case,’ Ortega, who represents La Union, said.
The House Committee on Human Rights chairperson, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said Poa is being called to testify because of what he knew while serving as a senior DepEd official.
The prosecution is currently presenting evidence under Article I of the impeachment complaint, which involves allegations of misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.