QUEZON CITY – Lawmakers questioned the Department of Education (DepEd) led by then-Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte over its use of certifications from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to justify P15.54 million confidential fund expenses.

In the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing on Thursday, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said the Commission on Audit disallowed P15.54 million out of the P112.5 million confidential fund expenses of DepEd in 2023.

"May pinapa-explain ang COA [Commission on Audit] na P15.54 million is the lack of supporting documents for payment of rewards, reward to informers. In response to the AOM [Observation Memorandum], nakatanggap po ang COA ng certification galing sa apat na AFP officers," she said.

The Philippine Army officials who were the signatories of the documents were all present.

Luistro said Col. Manaros Boransing II, Lt. Col. Carlos Sangdaan Jr., and Col. Magtangol Panopio confirmed issuing certifications to DepEd for the AFP-led Youth Leadership Summits in 2023.

DepEd Undersecretary Ret. Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin said he was the one who requested the document from the four infantry divisions, upon the order of former chief of staff Michael Poa.

But he denied that the DepEd spent funds on the AFP-led youth programs.

"I was asked by the Office of the Secretary to ask for certification coming from these units. But it is clear to them or even to me, that no funds are involved. Meaning no funds are released to the units," he said.

"What the Office of the Secretary wanted to know is the product or the result of the collaboration of units, including DepEd for our youth. It is clear that DepEd has not released a single centavo to the conduct of YLS to the units mentioned," Mempin added.

He also claimed that he does not know where the P15 million was spent.

When asked about the source of funds for the youth summits, the Army officers said they did not get funds from DepEd.

"For our participants, we used funds of the Philippine Army. For the students they used the local government funds. Some used the provincial government funds, some delegates are also using the municipal LGU funds. From the participants of other stakeholders from the DepEd, the PDEA, the police, they use their own funds. So it's really a multi-stakeholder," Boransing said.

Poa explained to lawmakers the reason behind his request for certifications.

"Hindi po specifically on YLS [Youth Leadership Summit], but what I asked for is for any accomplishment. Ayon doon sa AOM [Observation Memorandum] na natanggap namin, kapag nagbigay daw ng rewards, you needed evidence of success of the information you received through the giving out of rewards. Because of this, I coordinated with Usec. Mempin, to provide any proof of accomplishment para doon sa rewards na na-disburse ng confidential funds," he said.

Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores pressed Poa on the use of the AFP certifications by the DepEd.

"It all boils down to the fact that you are using a certification of an activity of a different agency who never spent any peso coming from your office to justify your expense. Tama po ba? You attached it to justify your expenses. So tell me where's the connection there?" he asked.

"If we were able, because may anti-insurgency campaigns, anti-extremist campaigns. iyon ang nakita ko sa accomplishment report, so that's why I approached Usec. [Nolasco] Mempin, and said, Meron ba tayong makukuhanan na any report or certification, showing that because of the information that DepEd was probably able to give AFP, na-target nila kung sino 'yung susceptible to insurgency and were able to prevent them from being recruited. And in this case, ang nabigay nila ay seminars and that is why iyon ang sinubmit ko na response sa AOM," Poa said in response.

Luistro said the hearing established the AFP certifications were used to justify the supposed payment of informers.

"While we believe these certifications were submitted to justify the P15 million that were allegedly paid to reward informers, now officers from AFP that includes Gen. Mempin are stating that the DepEd did not utilize any of its confidential funds in support of the Youth Leadership Summit. These statements are completely contradictory to what the DepEd has made the COA [Commission on Audit] believe in the submission of these certifications," she said.

"If there are glaring indications of irregularity already, as those we have mentioned and that of the AFP, is it not that COA should address its mandate of making sure that all receipts and expenditures are duly accounted for?" Luistro added.

After the hearing, panel chairperson Manila Rep. Joel Chua reiterated the need to limit agencies that will be given confidential funds to those with mandates related to security and surveillance.

The House panel has been investigating the alleged misuse of the confidential funds of DepEd under then Secretary Duterte.

The Vice President has repeatedly denied misuse of the agency's confidential funds.