Bam Aquino wants stiffer penalties vs fraud in school voucher program

Senator Bam Aquino is calling for tougher penalties for those that will defraud government funds under the private school voucher program.

Aquino made the call after an official of the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) disclosed that some private schools operating under provisional permits had abused the Senior High School Voucher Program through "ghost students."

The senator raised the proposal during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, which he chairs, as lawmakers discussed measures to modernize and strengthen government support for private basic education.

Aquino said the committee report should include a separate and higher penalty to deter fraud and protect funds intended for students.

“Iyong isa sigurong puwede nating madagdag sa committee report ay a separate penalty for schools or for individuals who are defrauding our students,” Aquino said.

(One thing we can probably add to the committee report is a separate penalty for schools or individuals who are defrauding our students.)

He stressed that while existing laws already penalize offenses such as syndicated estafa or falsification of documents, these may not be sufficient to address abuses specific to the voucher system.

“Puwede tayong maglagay ng iba pang penalty… maybe in this bill, we can include the penalties for those who will do fraudulent behavior,” he said.

(We can impose additional penalties… maybe in this bill, we can include penalties for those who engage in fraudulent behavior.)

Aquino noted that defrauding education funds warrants harsher punishment because it directly harms learners.

“Kasi pag ninanakaw natin pera na dapat napupunta sa mga kabataan, parang ibang level po iyon ng kasamaan,” he said.

(Because when money meant for the youth is stolen, that is a different level of wrongdoing.)

He asserted the proposed penalties would be formally recommended in the committee report to ensure that potential offenders are discouraged from exploiting the system.

“Itaas natin iyong penalty na iyon,” Aquino said.

(Let us raise that penalty.)

Aquino further expressed hope that the proposal would gain support in the Senate, saying stronger sanctions would make individuals and institutions think twice before misusing public education funds. —VAL, GMA Integrated News