SEVERAL officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 have allegedly received funds from the office of Vice President Sara Duterte as “reimbursement” for their field expenses.
This was brought up during the inquiry of the House committee on good government and public accountability about DepEd’s financial transactions and the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds.
Former DepEd Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Edward Fajarda, during the seventh committee hearing on Nov. 25, 2024, admitted to House lawmakers that he transferred funds to bank accounts of superintendents in Central Visayas under the instructions of Duterte.
Fajarda further said that the funds were provided to superintendents as “reimbursements” for field expenses they had initially covered using their own money.
SunStar Cebu on Sunday, Dec. 1, tried to reach Deped 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez for comment about Fajarda’s statement, but he refused, saying the matter is a national issue and has been with the House Blue Ribbon committee.
Messages
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre presented screenshots of the messages to the committee and inquired with Fajarda about their authenticity and whether the cellphone number in the messages was his.
Fajarda, now serving as an executive in OVP, verified the screenshots of his exchange with superintendents from Central Visayas.
The messages contain advice to the superintendents to provide their bank account numbers to a certain Edward.
Fajarda verified both as accurate.
When asked why the bank details were being requested, Fajarda stated he was only instructed by Duterte.
Fajarda said the instructions came directly from Duterte and that the funds were handed to him by the vice president herself.
“Actually, I was instructed by VP Sara,” said Fajarda.
Not all
Fajarda further clarified that only superintendents who provided their personal account numbers received funds, emphasizing that it was not a regular occurrence.
This contrasted with the statements of three senior DepEd officials, who testified that they had routinely received cash envelopes.
He explained that only those who provided their personal account numbers received the funds, which were handed to him directly by Duterte.
“Binibigay po ‘yun [funds] sa akin ni VP Sara (VP Sara gave the funds to me),” he stated.
Fajarda further noted that the funds were provided to superintendents as “reimbursements” for field expenses they had initially covered using their own money.
“Kasi during po sa pagikot ni VP Sara nakita niya po doon na ‘yung superintendent gumagastos ng sariling pera galing sa kanilang office field work po nila,” he told lawmakers.
(It’s because during VP Sara’s visit, she saw that the superintendent was using their own money for fieldwork expenses from their office.)
While the testimonies of Fajarda largely focused on fund transfers, former DepEd undersecretary Gloria Mercado’s affidavit included her recollection of Fajarda asking about the bank accounts of several individuals.
“My office confirmed that it was upon the instruction of the Office of the Secretary. Evidently, it would appear that regional directors and other employees on the field would also receive sums on top of their regular salaries,” Mercado’s sworn statement said.
Fajarda clarified, however, that the funds were intended for superintendents, not regional directors.
“Kung titingnan mo sa screenshot, yung lahat po ng superintendent sa Region 7 ay inyo pong kinontak at hiningan. Ibig sabihin silang lahat po nabigyan (Based on the screenshots, it seems all superintendents in Region 7 were contacted. Does that mean they all received cash)?” Acidre said.
Fajarda reiterated that not all superintendents received the fund transfers.
It remains unclear whether the funds came from Duterte’s personal money or were sourced from the agency’s confidential or regular funds.
When asked about where the funds came from, Fajarda confirmed that it was handed out by the Vice President.
“Binibigay po yun sa akin ni VP Sara (VP Sara gave it to me),” he said.
This statement aligns with similar disclosures from other former DepEd officials, including former undersecretary Gloria Mercado and former chief accountant Rhunna Catalan, who previously acknowledged receiving cash from Duterte.
Acidre highlighted the pattern, noting the consistency of the testimonies across multiple witnesses.
Disbursement of confidential funds
During the same hearing, OVP SDO Gina Acosta admitted releasing P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, the commander of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group, on Dec. 20, 2022.
The entire amount was encashed and handed over on the same day.
Also, Fajarda disclosed that
P37.5 million in confidential funds for the first quarter of 2023 was turned over to Col. Dennis Nolasco, DepEd’s designated security officer.
Both SDOs confirmed that the transactions were carried out under Duterte’s direct orders.
“Ang head of agency ang nag-instruct na i-release sa aming security officer (The head of the agency instructed us to release the funds to our security officer),” Acosta said.
House Deputy Speaker Rep. David Suarez pressed Fajarda on the authority that allowed Col. Dennis Nolasco to manage these funds, asking, “Who gave him the power to be designated officer?”
Fajarda responded that the directive came directly from Vice President Duterte.
“I was informed by VP Sara that there is a designated security officer,” he said.
The P37.5 million, part of the P112.5 million in confidential funds under DepEd, was encashed as a cash advance by SDO Fajarda during the first quarter of 2023, with two additional checks of the same amount withdrawn in subsequent quarters while Duterte was leading the education department.
Both Fajarda and OVP SDO Gina Acosta confirmed that these transactions were made under direct orders from Vice President Duterte.
The Commission on Audit flagged nearly half of the initial P125 million, disallowing P73 million spent in the 11-day period in late 2022.
Audit observation memoranda were also issued for the remaining P375 million spent in 2023, citing multiple irregularities.