Two senior Philippine Army officials told the Senate Impeachment Court on Tuesday that certifications they issued to the Department of Education (DepEd) under Vice President Sara Duterte were limited to confirming youth anti-insurgency activities and did not validate the agency’s use of P112.5 million in confidential funds.
Assistant Chiefs of Staff for Civil-Military Operations Col. Manaros Boransing and Col. Magtanggol Panopio testified that their certifications only covered attendance at Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) and Information Education Communication (IEC) campaigns.
They stressed that the documents contained no financial liquidation or confirmation of payouts to informants.
Panopio said he was surprised to learn that his certifications were used before the Commission on Audit (COA) to justify DepEd’s confidential fund spending.
“Our certification is only for the Youth Leadership Summit. We did not certify anything about money or funds,” he told the Court.
Boransing also clarified that the certifications merely confirmed DepEd’s participation in Army-led programs.
“There was no mention of any funds in the certifications that we issued,” he said, adding that the Army shouldered its own expenses for the activities.
Both officers denied knowledge of how DepEd spent its confidential funds.
Panopio affirmed that his certifications “have no relation” to the P15.54 million DepEd claimed to have paid informants, while Boransing said he was never informed that the documents would be used to justify confidential fund disbursements.
The P112.5 million in DepEd confidential funds was withdrawn in three single-day transactions of P37.5 million each in 2023, according to earlier testimony by former Landbank DepEd manager Nenita Camposano.
Vice President Duterte is facing trial before the Senate Impeachment Court over allegations of crimes, graft, and betrayal of public trust linked to the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds of the DepEd and the Office of the Vice President. ||
