A House leader strongly condemned the undisclosed cash allowances distributed to Department of Education (DepEd) officials during Vice President Sara Duterte’s tenure.

Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre is among those lawmakers who were shocked to hear that another staff of the DepEd was given envelope containing money as special allowance.

At the resumption of the hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability, DepEd Chief Accountant Ma. Rhunna Catalan revealed that she received cash envelopes on several occasions last year, amounting to P25,000, without any formal documentation or budget allocation.

These funds, characterized as “allowances” from the Vice President’s office, directly contradict the agency’s established “no gift policy.”

Acidre did not hold back in expressing his concern over this troubling contradiction.

“In public service, policies like the ‘no gift policy’ are meant to uphold integrity, accountability, and transparency. However, when leadership’s actions contradict these principles, it sends a damaging message. While VP Duterte’s directive to enforce this policy was commendable, the revelation of cash gifts given without oversight raises serious questions about both consistency and ethical standards,” Acidre said.

Catalan’s testimony has intensified scrutiny of financial practices within DepEd.

Catalan is the fourth education official to make such an admission before the committee, which is investigating the alleged misuse of funds by Duterte at the Office of the Vice President and DepEd.

According to Catalan the envelopes were handed over to her by then-DepEd Assistant Secretary Sunshine Charry Fajarda, a trusted aide of the Vice President.

Catalan told the panel, “minimal amount lang po, it’s 25,000 pesos.”

She further revealed that she received the amount from Fajarda monthly over a nine-month period, from February to September 2023.

She also admitted being “requested” by Fajarda to sign the liquidation vouchers for the P112.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs), which were withdrawn as cash advances by Fajarda’s husband, Edward, who was Duterte’s special disbursing officer (SDO) at DepEd.

The funds in question were withdrawn through three separate checks, each valued at P37.5 million, issued to then-SDO Fajarda. These cash advances were made in the first three quarters of 2023 when Duterte was leading the DepEd.

Catalan’s admission drew pointed questions from Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano. “Edward Fajarda signed it. VP signed it, and you signed it. But you were requested by Ms. Fajarda?” he asked. Catalan affirmed, “Yes, Sir.”

The Fajarda couple was among seven OVP officials subpoenaed and warned by the committee that they could face “a heavier penalty,” possibly a contempt citation and arrest order, if they fail to attend the next hearing.

In his interpellation, committee vice chair Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante questioned whether Catalan had been requested or pressured to sign the liquidation reports.

“I was requested, Sir, in a nice way,” Catalan replied, maintaining that there was no coercion.

However, Abante challenged her perspective, pointing out the potential influence behind repeated cash payments.

Catalan explained that when she first received the envelope, she had asked Fajarda if it was part of the confidential fund.

According to Catalan, Fajarda assured her it was simply “an allowance from the Vice President.”

Assistant Secretary Fajarda was also named in previous testimony by former DepEd Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado, who disclosed that she received regular cash payments from the Vice President allegedly intended to influence her in her role as the agency’s head of the procuring entity.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas