Security officer picked by VP Duterte disbursed confidential funds

MANILA, Philippines — A security officer designated by Vice President Sara Duterte disbursed the confidential funds (CF) for her office and the Department of Education (DepEd), lawmakers learned on Monday.

DepEd former special disbursing officer (SDO) Edward Fajarda — one of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) officials earlier cited for contempt and ordered detained by the House committee on good government and public accountability — revealed this during his first attendance of the probe on Monday.

READ: House probe retraces bulk withdrawals of confidential funds

Initially, DepEd by Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop asked Fajarda about the disbursement process of P37.5 million CF for the OVP. As he questioned Fajarda, the lawmaker also showed the panel a voucher for the first quarter of 2023, signed by the former DepEd SDO.

Earlier hearings revealed that the P112.5 million CF in question was withdrawn in three separate checks amounting to P37.5 million each. Acop showed that Fajardo issued these checks in the first three quarters of 2023.

“I only disburse to the security officer, no one else,” Fajarda told Acop in Filipino.

“So if anyone needs the fund, you only give it to the security officer for disbursement?” Acop asked again.

The former SDO answered in the affirmative.

On hearing this, the lawmaker requested the name of the security officer in charge of the fund’s disbursement.

“Col. Dennis Nolasco po,” Fajarda answered.

Acop then moved to invite Nolasco, and panel chair Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua approved.

Following Acop’s questions, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez clarified with lawyer Gloria Camora — team leader of the Commission on Audit’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office — if the responsibilities of an SDO could be delegated.

Camora said yes, prompting Gutierrez to grill Fajarda further.

“So what is the point of the special disbursement officer? Did you understand, Mr. Chair, most respectfully? You are the [one] bonded here. If the CF has a problem, you are the one who will answer to the Treasury. Do you understand that, Mr. Fajarda?” he asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Fajarda answered.

“So how can you say now in full honesty, your certification, that you handled personally the disbursement of confidential funds?” the lawmaker asked.

“I am disbursing confidential funds to the security officer,” the former SDO said.

Later on during the hearing, Deputy Speaker David Suarez also asked Fajarda who designated Nolasco to disburse the funds.

Fajarda explained that he was informed by Duterte about a “designated security officer,” referring to Nolasco.

Suarez asked if Duterte designated Nolasco to disburse the money, to which Fajarda answered in the affirmative.

“There is a paper saying that? Because you are the one who has the responsibility for this money. You should be the one who is disbursing it. So, you cannot designate that authority and that power to anybody else. So, now, is there a document that you can show that indeed it came from the vice president?” Suarez asked.

“Can you produce that document, Mr. Fajarda?” he added.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Fajarda said.