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Hse eyes plunder raps vs VP Sara, P112.5 M cash advances
By Nidz Godino
“These funds are taxpayers’ money, and we have to ensure that these are spent judiciously,” Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said, referring to three separate checks issued, each worth P37.5 million, during first three quarters of 2023, when Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio was still leading Department of Education.
Failure on the part of Duterte to fully account for P112.5 million in confidential funds she advanced during her time as education secretary will make her liable for plunder, senior administration lawmaker warned.
“If the VP, as head of Department of Education then, cannot give us clear explanation as to how these were spent, then it is our duty as lawmakers to pursue what is necessary and legal, may include recommendation for plunder, to protect public interest,” Gonzales stressed.
“If she cannot explain how this P112.5 million were spent, we may have no choice but to consider recommending filing of plunder case,” he reiterated.
With threshold for plunder set at P50 million, P112.5 million in question significantly surpasses that limit, according to the lawmaker.
Three checks were issued to DepEd Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda.
Although sitting VP is an impeachable official, legal and constitutional experts have previously clarified unlike the President, Vice President does not enjoy immunity from suit, leaving her open to criminal charges while in office.
Gonzales, who represents Pampanga’s third district, issued his warning as he continued to press for answers regarding questionable disbursement uncovered during Oct. 17 hearing of House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability.
During hearing presided by committee chairman, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, Gonzales directed series of pointed questions to DepEd Undersecretary for finance Annalyn Sevilla about disbursement of confidential funds, as well as Fajarda’s role in encashing them.
Sevilla confirmed checks were issued and encashed by Fajarda in accordance with standard procedures for cash advances involving confidential and intelligence funds, adding that her role as undersecretary for finance was limited to processing disbursement of funds.
At the same time, Sevilla also noted that the DepEd Finance Office had no role in overseeing how funds were ultimately spent.
“There is no record where we can see full accounting or budget on utilization or liquidation,” she said.
This response earned Gonzales’ ire, saying this is vital issue with documentation of transactions.
“This check has corresponding voucher right…so, how come Mr. Fajarda was able to encash check?” he asked.
Sevilla then confirmed checks were encashed at Land Bank of the Philippines and that Fajarda was responsible for transporting funds.
Gonzales pointed out discrepancies in documentation, noting that disbursement vouchers for funds were labeled as maintenance and other operating expenses rather than confidential funds.
This, he argued, raises serious concerns about how funds were categorized and whether they were used for their intended purposes.
Lawmaker emphasized that such mislabeling could indicate lack of transparency and potential misuse of public funds allocated for sensitive programs.
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