Ex-DepEd exec says P4M to P6M in confidential funds released weekly to 'security officer'

The special disbursement officer of the Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday told the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that he released P4 million to P6 million a week in confidential funds to a "security officer" designated by a colonel in the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.

At the continuation of the House inquiry on the disbursement of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte, Edward Fajarda said the DepEd in 2023 used P112.5 million worth of confidential funds.

He told the committee he would withdraw P37.5 million from the Land Bank of the Philippines branch at the DepEd and released the funds in weekly tranches to Colonel Dennis Nolasco.

Nolasco, he said, was the security officer designated by a certain Colonel Lachica of the Vice Presidential Security Group.

“Sa security officer lang po ako nagdi-disburse niyan. Wala na pong iba. Hindi po ‘yan buong P37.5 million na ibibigay sa kanya. Mostly weekly po yan. Weekly po. Nagre-range po sa P4 million to P6 million weekly,” Fajarda said.

(I only disbursed to the security officer, no one else. It's done weekly. The releases range from P4 million to P6 million.)

Asked for details on how the confidential fund was spent, Fajarda said it was Nolasco who disbursed the confidential funds.

“Hindi po kasi ako ang expert dyan. Si Colonel Nolasco po. Siya po kasi ang gumawa niyan. Siya po kasi ang gumawa niyan,” Fajarda said.

(I'm not an expert in that area. It was Colonel Nolasco. He's the one in charge.)

1-Rider party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez asked the Commission on Audit auditor if it would be correct to say that the special disbursement officer may not delegate his or her duties of disbursing public funds as provided by Presidential Decree 1445.

State auditor Gloria Camora replied, “Yes po, Mr. Chair, since siya naman po ‘yung nakapirma sa certification.”

 (Yes, that would be correct, because the disbursement officer is the signatory.)

 Also on Monday, OVP Special Disbursement Officer Gina Acosta said she had nothing to do with the 700 acknowledgment receipts on the P125 million confidential fund disbursement in 2022.

These were signed without corresponding signatories since she turned over the entire amount to a certain “Colonel Lachica” of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group based on the instructions of the Vice President.

In addition, Acosta said she was unaware of the identity of signatories of acknowledgment receipts on disbursed confidential funds such as Mary Grace Piattos and Kokoy Villamin and again deferred to Lachica.

 “The one who can answer those questions properly is Sir Lachica,” Acosta said. —NB, GMA Integrated News