Their certifications of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) participation in the 2023 youth training programs had nothing to do with the agency’s confidential funds, two Philippine Army officials told the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday.
‘I think wala po akong pinapatunayan sa paggastos ng pera, your honor. It’s only stating that we conducted the YLS (Youth Leadership Summit) in our area of operation, your honor,’ Col. Magtangol Panopio of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division said.
(I think I did not attest to how the money was spent, Your Honor. It only states that we conducted the YLS (Youth Leadership Summit) in our area of operations, Your Honor.)
His remark was in response to Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros’ question whether the certification he signed on December 05, 2023 was in support to the accuracy of how the DepEd spent its confidential funds.
The DepEd, at that time, was being headed by Vice President Sara Duterte.
A separate certification of the DepEd’s participation in the YLS and the Information Education Communication (IEC) campaign activities was also issued and signed by Col. Manaros Boransing II of the1st Infantry (Tabak) Division on January 01, 2024.
Their certifications were among the documents that the education agency submitted to the Commission on Audit to prove its use of P15.5 million in confidential funds.
‘So simpleng ang certification may dinaos na ganitong mga gawain. Wala pong sinasabi kung paano o anong pondo ang ginastos ng particular ng DedEd yun whether regular funds nila or confidential and intelligence funds nila. Wala po yun sa certification?’ Hontiveros asked again.
(So, the certification simply states that these activities were conducted. It does not say how they were funded or what specific funds DepEd used, whether their regular funds or confidential and intelligence funds. None of that is stated in the certification?)
‘Wala po yun sa certification, your honor,’ Panopio answered.
(That is not stated in the certification, Your Honor.)
Hontiveros earlier asked Boransing the same questions, with the latter confirming the conduct of eight summits and an EIC in 2023 with partner agencies, including DepEd.
‘So bilang signatory po nung inyong certification, pinapatotohanan nyo ba na tama ang paggamit ng DepEd sa kanilang confidential and intelligence funds?’ Hontiveros asked.
(So, as the signatory to your certification, are you attesting that DepEd properly used its confidential and intelligence funds?)
‘No, ma’am,’Boransing said. ‘The certification was their DepEd’s and other stakeholders’ participation in the Youth Leadership Summit and the Information Education Communication Campaign, ma’am.’
‘Wala kayong pinatotohanan doon na gumastos sila ng pondo, whether regular or confidential and intelligence funds, para doon sa activities ng Philippine Army?’ the senator asked again.
(You did not attest that they spent any funds, whether regular or confidential and intelligence funds, for those activities of the Philippine Army?)
The witness replied in the affirmative.
Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds released to the DepEd and the Office of the Vice President is one of the four articles of impeachment lodged against her.