Solon: SDO’s move to give up fund release role may lead to malversation

Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (Photo from 1-Rider Party-List’s Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Moves by special disbursing officers (SDOs) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to cede disbursement responsibilities to security officers can be considered technical malversation, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez, in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex on Tuesday, said that even if the confidential funds (CF) of both agencies reached its intended program and beneficiaries, the fact that the SDOs admitted that security officials were behind the disbursements can lead to the filing of cases.

“If you recall, the bonded officer here is the SDO.  The SDO is the one responsible (for disbursing funds).  But now, they cannot even tell us the smallest details of what we’re expecting from the accomplishment reports, liquidation reports.  So I think that’s the biggest takeaway here,” Gutierrez said.

“On the question of what are possible liabilities here, it would really vary, if we recall, if this is a public fund intended for public use.  Even if, assuming, that the funds for confidential purposes were still used for public use, let’s say, for example, but it did not go through strict procedures, I believe this is technical malversation,” he added.

Gutierrez said this after being asked about recent admissions before the House of Representatives’ committee on good government and public accountability regarding CF disbursements of the OVP and DepEd.

At the hearing on Monday, Gina Acosta, OVP’s SDO, said she left the release of CFs to Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) chief Col. Raymund Dante Lachica upon Vice President Sara Duterte’s orders.

Aside from Acosta, former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda said that Duterte — when she was still Education secretary — designated Col. Dennis Nolasco as the official responsible for disbursing the CFs.

READ: Security officer picked by VP Duterte disbursed confidential funds 

In the event that the OVP and the DepEd cannot satisfactorily explain where the CF went — including issues regarding the acknowledgement receipts (ARs) — Gutierrez said this could be malversation or worse, plunder, as the amount involved exceeds the P50 million threshold.

The CFs of OVP and DepEd that the committee is checking on amount to P612.5 million.

“But worse, if this was taken for personal gain, if it is proven that the ARs are fictitious and erroneous, to justify the taking of this amount, that could be malversation proper.  Or worse, plunder.  Because this is over the P50 million (threshold),” Gutierrez noted.

Previously, the House panel discussed issues involving the ARs for the CF disbursements.  Last November 20, the committee unearthed another possible anomaly as there were two different ARs signed by a single person, but showed 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.

For the OVP’s CF expenditures, Villamin signed the AR 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 another hearing last November 5, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop pointed out to the Commission on Audit 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.