THE Department of Education (DepEd) is the biggest government agency with more or less 1 million teaching and non-teaching personnel. It is also given the biggest budget every year.

Despite its great contribution to nation-building, it has always been in the limelight due to some controversial issues that affected the department.

However, the education leaders, especially the executive committee headed by Secretary Leonor M. Briones, are always doing their best to face all the challenges and intrigues that beset the Department.

Recently, another report reached the Central Office regarding alleged malicious activities of some groups using the names of the Secretary and other personnel including members of the Executive Committee. I am publishing here in toto the official statement of DepEd regarding the said controversy for everyone’s information and guidance. This is the whole statement found in DepEd’s official website, http://www.deped.gov.ph:

The Department has received multiple reports of malicious activities of some groups who are using the names of the Department of Education, the Secretary, her staff, and members of the Executive Committee to solicit financial donations.

We would like to reiterate to the public that the Department has not authorized any individual or group to conduct such activity, especially in the name of the Secretary. As a public institution, DepEd adheres to government rules and Commission of Audit directives on donations.

We are currently investigating, with the help of our law enforcement authorities, and tracing the people behind the latest scam where the Secretary’s speaking voice was imitated. If you encounter any suspicious transactions of the same nature, please immediately report them to DepEd Central Office. The DepEd Public Assistance and Action Center can be reached through landline (02) 8636-1663 and (02) 8633-1942 or email at depedactioncenter@deped.gov.ph.

This Corner hopes that illegal activities like this will be stopped and the perpetrators will be apprehended and have their day in court so that the Department will be able to concentrate on its mandate to provide quality basic education to all learners.