BARMM minister Iqbal urged to file leave over alleged fund irregularities

Mohagher Iqbal, chief of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), has been asked to take a leave of absence by a Moro parliament official over the agency's alleged P2.2-billion fund controversy.

Lawyer Rasol Mitmug, chair of the Bangsamoro Parliament's blue ribbon committee has called for Iqbal's indefinite leave pending a probe by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the MBHTE.

Mitmug's call followed COA's start of a special audit, particularly on the alleged fund disbursement of P1.77 billion in one day.

The COA office in Manila has already requested the cooperation of BARMM officials for the special audit into the alleged irregularities.

Mitmug also called on Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua to ask Iqbal to step down from his post, noting that this was necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation.

To recall, the COA was prompted to conduct a special audit due to reports that the MBHTE disbursed P1.77 billion on March 7, 2025.

The payout for Learners' and Teachers' Kits, however, allegedly bypassed standard financial scrutiny and signatures, which is a required process to ensure the legality of government funds.

In a letter by COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba sent to Macacua, the former confirmed that the complaints against Iqbal "require the conduct of a special audit" following a preliminary review by the COA offices. Cordoba has requested assistance to the audit team for the entire duration of the audit probe.

Additional claims include checks that were allegedly directly handed to certain personnel, including a cashier, without proper oversight.

The P1.77-billion disbursement is the largest in a series of complaints faced by the MBHTE, which holds a substantial portion of the Bangsamoro government's budget of more than P36 billion. 

Other allegations under investigation include a P449-million payment, which was supposedly made to a single supplier under "questionable circumstances." 

Sworn affidavits have reportedly been signed by witnesses detailing these and other irregularities, including the alleged selling of teaching items.

GMA News Online reached out to Iqbal for comment. No response yet has been received as of posting. — VDV, GMA Integrated News