ARMED Forces of the Philippines Col. Magtanggol Panopio said on Tuesday that he was surprised to learn that a certification he issued merely to confirm the conduct of Army youth activities had been used in connection with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) liquidation of ₱15.54 million in confidential-fund rewards.
Panopio told the Senate Impeachment Court that he discovered the document’s use only when he appeared before a House inquiry into DepEd’s confidential intelligence funds in 2024—not when he issued the certification dated December 5, 2023.
“Nalaman po namin iyan noong humarap kami sa Congress, noong nagkaroon po ng congressional hearing sa confidential intelligence fund ng Department of Education, Your Honor,” Panopio said.
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero placed the date of that House hearing on the record as October 17, 2024. Panopio confirmed that it was there that he learned his certification had been included among DepEd’s documents in responding to a Commission on Audit (COA) Audit Observation Memorandum.
“Medyo nagulat po kami, kasi iyong certification po namin is only for the certification that we conducted the Youth Leadership Summit. Hindi po namin sine-certify anything about money or funds, Your Honor,” Panopio testified.
Before Panopio took the stand, the prosecution tried to shorten the proceedings through stipulations covering him and two other military officers. The defense agreed that no DepEd confidential funds had been transferred to their Army units but refused to stipulate that the officers were unaware of how their certifications would later be used.
That dispute required Panopio to testify personally on his knowledge and intent.
He said the document was issued under instructions coursed through his military command and coordinated with former DepEd Undersecretary Nolasco Mempin.
“Iyong certification ay in compliance with the order of my commander to issue certifications to DepEd in coordination with then-Usec. Nolasco Mempin, Your Honor,” Panopio explained.
Issuing such documents was not unusual in itself, he said, because military activities commonly involved other government agencies and local partners.
“It is part of my job as the assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations to issue certificates to our partners, especially on activities conducted by the division, Your Honor,” he said.
“Ang certification na iyon po ay nagpapatunay na iyong mga Youth Leadership Summit ay totoong naisakatuparan sa aming area of operations during the year 2023, Your Honor,” he added.
Private prosecutor Atty. Reynaldo Robles asked whether DepEd had ever explained why the certification was used in that manner. Panopio answered: “I don’t know, Your Honor.”
He likewise said he possessed no information establishing a connection between his certification and the alleged payment of confidential-fund rewards. “I have no information on that, Your Honor,” Panopio said.
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