Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list denounced the undisclosed cash allowances distributed to Department of Education (DepEd) officials during Vice President Sara Duterte’s tenure.
Acidre was reacting to what was uncovered during Tuesday’s congressional hearing where DepEd Chief Accountant Ma. Rhunna Catalan revealed having received cash envelopes on several occasions last year, totaling P25,000, without any formal documentation or budget allocation.
These funds, characterized as “allowances” from the Vice President’s office, directly contradict the agency’s established “no gift policy.”
Acidre expressed his concern over this troubling contradiction. “In public service, policies like the ‘no gift policy’ are meant to uphold integrity, accountability, and transparency. However, when leadership’s actions contradict these principles, it sends a damaging message. While VP Duterte’s directive to enforce this policy was commendable, the revelation of cash gifts given without oversight raises serious questions about both consistency and ethical standards.”
Catalan’s testimony has intensified scrutiny of financial practices within DepEd. Acidre noted, “Such actions, if allowed to persist, create confusion among personnel and lead to skepticism about the sincerity of established policies. Trust is crucial for unity and effectiveness within any department. The stark inconsistency between what is preached and what is practiced undermines not only the policy itself but also the credibility of leadership.”
As the investigation into DepEd’s financial practices continues, Acidre underscored the importance of accountability.
House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas meanwhile called for impeachment proceedings against the Vice President following the explosive revelations at the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing where lawmakers flagged fabricated acknowledgment receipts related to the Vice President’s confidential fund spending.
“The discovery of 158 questionable receipts with identical ink signatures, incorrect dates, and non-existent names is a clear indication of large-scale fraud and corruption,” Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party-list.
“This is not just a simple case of documentation errors but a deliberate attempt to cover up the misuse of people’s money,” Brosas added.
The lawmaker emphasized that the alleged fabrication of official documents to justify confidential fund expenses constitutes betrayal of public trust and corruption, both impeachable offenses under the Constitution.
“Hindi na sapat ang congressional inquiry lamang. Kailangang managot si VP Sara sa malawakang pandaraya at pagmamanipula ng mga dokumento para pagtakpan ang paggamit ng confidential funds.
She stressed a congressional inquiry alone is no longer enough to hold Duterte accountable for alleged massive fraud and manipulation of documents to cover up the use of confidential funds.
“The Filipino people deserve no less than a full impeachment proceeding,” Brosas stressed.
“We cannot allow public officials to treat government coffers as their personal piggy bank while millions of Filipinos struggle with poverty. We stand firm in demanding full accountability and transparency in the use of public funds,” she ended.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Acidre criticizes past DepEd cash allowances: ‘Integrity must start at the top’.”
