Solon: OVP, DepEd release of CF to various areas daily is impossible

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MANILA, Philippines — It is impossible for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) employees to certify the release of confidential funds (CFs) to several areas across the country daily, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said on Wednesday.

During the House of Representatives’ committee hearing on good government and public accountability, Gutierrez raised several points, including the low probability that the DepEd special disbursing officers (SDO) can visit different far-flung areas to release the CFs.

Gutierrez noted that on February 21, 2023 — a day after SDO Edward Fajarda encashed a P37.5 million cheque — the DepEd official made seven disbursements to Malolos in Bulacan, Davao, San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur, Makati City, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Davao City.

“We’ve seen for example, for this is, I think the DepEd, so this would be by Mr. Fajardo, for the, I believe is the first quarter of 2023, submitted on the 31st of March.  There were disbursements every day po no since the release of the cash and that disbursements would not go less than 10 times a day po,” Gutierrez said.

“If you could see in the chart this is what we’ve seen, you would notice that the ARs (acknowledgment receipts) would say the address or location, this is one thing particular with the DepEd, aside from the name, the signature, and the date, there are locations mentioned.  So on February 21, 2023 or the very next day after the SDO encashed the P37.5 million in checks, it was stated in the [ARs] that SDO Fajardo made seven disbursements already,” he added.

Gutierrez said that it would be impossible to hit all areas even if the government provided a helicopter to the DepEd SDO.

“In addition to this, if you go to the day of the first quarter that had the most disbursements, which is March 15, 2023, SDO Fajarda supposedly made 26 disbursements in the following locations: Davao Del Sur, Surigao Del Sur, Oriental Mindoro, Laguna, Zamboanga Del Sur, Cebu, Ifugao, Antique, Batanes, Pampanga, Legaspi, Lanao Del Norte, Batangas, Tarlac, Metro Manila, Samar, Davao Del Oro, Agusan Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Oro, Laguna, Cavite, Surigao Del Norte,” he said.

“Attorney (Gloria) Camora, let’s give him a helicopter. I (still) don’t think he’ll do that in one day.  So it really raises a question: how did SDO Fajarda certify and say that he personally disbursed this?” Gutierrez asked.

The lawmaker also asked Camora — the audit team leader of the Commission on Audit (COA) Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (ICFAO) — if this does not alarm the auditing agency.

Camora said the hearings prompted the COA to be more strict in asking for proof of transactions.

“Well, because of this, our hearings here, we’re kind of looking into this, that we should be a little stricter with our audit from now on,” Camora said.

“In Pasig po na encash, and immediately the next day, he traveled to the seven places and had the seven ARs.  Did this not raise a red flag of the impossibility of this occurring?” Gutierrez asked.

“Um, well, it does, sir.  Although during our review, somehow we just accepted the acknowledgment receipt,” Camora replied.

This is not the first time that the committee discussed CF disbursements and ARs issues involving Vice President Sara Duterte’s offices — OVP and DepEd.  Earlier, the committee unearthed another possible anomaly as there were two different ARs signed by a single person, while showing different handwriting and signature styles.

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong showed two ARs for CFs — one for the OVP and one for DepEd — which were both received by a certain Kokoy Villamin.

Villamin signed the AR for the OVP’s CF expenditures last September 17, 2023.  The AR for the DepEd’s CF expenses did not show a date, but it was also signed by Villamin, who appears to be from Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental.  Villamin’s signature on the OVP AR was longer than the one on the DepEd AR.

READ: House probe: OVP, DepEd CFs received by same man, different signatures

Then at the committee’s previous hearing last November 5, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop pointed out to COA that several of the ARs were signed by a certain Mary Grace Piattos — which he said bears a first name similar to a coffee shop, while her last name is a famous potato chip brand.

READ: P1-M reward for information on Mary Grace Piattos – House lawmakers 

The ARs signed off by Piattos were part of the liquidation reports discussed during the same hearing, referring to the P23.8 million confidential funds covered by 158 receipts.