THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was fooled by the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2023 under Vice President Sara Duterte as education secretary, prosecution spokesman Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said on Tuesday.
Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, the prosecution spokesman, made the statement Tuesday following the testimony of Army Col. Manaros M. Boransing II before the Senate Impeachment Court.
Boransing, who served as assistant chief of staff of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division in 2023, testified about certifications issued for the AFP’s Youth Leadership Summit and other military-led activities.
The certification was among the documents submitted by DepEd during the liquidation of its P112.5 in million confidential funds spent in the latter part of 2023, when Duterte was education secretary.
Adiong said Boransing’s testimony raised concerns over how the AFP program was used in supporting DepEd’s liquidation documents.
“Isa lang pong conclusion ang puwede nating ma-draw from the testimony of Col. Boransing: nabudol po ang AFP,” he said.
He alleged that DepEd used a long-running AFP youth program as justification for confidential fund expenses that had been questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Ganun po ka-desperado ang Department of Education sa panunungkulan po ni [dating] Secretary Sara Duterte na yung legitimate na operation na matagal nang ginagawa ng AFP ay willing pa rin silang gamitin ito as a front to justify their confidential funds, which was flagged by COA na bawal paggamitan,” he said.
Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list echoed the concern, saying the testimony raised broader questions about the handling of confidential funds.
“Mukahng nabudol ang afp, mukhang nabudol ang taong bayan,” Acidre said.
He said Boransing’s testimony gives rise to more questions about how VP Duterte spent her P112.5 million confidential funds in DepEd but her P500 million in similar allocations under the Office of the Vice President.
Adiong emphasized that the AFP’s Youth Leadership Summit was an existing military program and that the military did not receive funding from DepEd for its implementation.
“Walang tinanggap ang AFP na pera o support funding mula sa Department of Education, lalo na kung galing ito sa confidential funds,” he said.
He explained that the program was funded through the agencies involved and was conducted in areas identified as having security concerns.
Adiong also argued that the certification issued by Boransing only confirmed participation or attendance in the activity and did not establish that DepEd confidential funds were used for the program.
“Kasi ito po ay certificate ng attendance at binibigay din po ito sa lahat ng ng agehsiyann lumahok dito,” he added.
Acidre said the testimony strengthened the prosecution’s argument that there were possible irregularities in the liquidation of confidential funds.
He said the use of the AFP certification as supporting documentation may have created a misleading impression that DepEd directly funded or conducted the activities.
metrosundaily
