Politics · Philippines Bureau
AFP officers to clarify role in DepEd fund certifications at impeachment trial
Two military officers are expected to testify before the Senate impeachment court regarding how Armed Forces of the Philippines certifications appeared in Department of Education confidential fund records. House prosecutors say the officers' testimony could explain discrepancies between the certifications' use and the signatories' previous claims of ignorance.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The House prosecution has signaled that testimony from two Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers could prove pivotal in clarifying questions about military certifications used in Department of Education confidential fund liquidation records.
Retired Col. Manaros Boransing II and Col. [name incomplete in source] are expected to appear before the Senate impeachment court, according to House prosecution spokespersons. Their testimony is anticipated to address a key inconsistency: AFP certifications were utilized in DepEd's confidential fund documentation despite the military officers' earlier statements that they were unaware of this specific purpose.
The appearance of AFP certifications in DepEd records has emerged as a central issue in the impeachment proceedings. Prosecutors argue that the officers' accounts could shed light on whether the certifications were properly authorized and whether signatories understood how their endorsements would be used in the education department's financial records.
The House prosecution team made the disclosure on Friday, signaling that military testimony will form an important part of their case before the impeachment court. The proceedings continue to examine how confidential funds were liquidated and what role various government agencies played in the process.