Politics · Philippines Bureau
Army officer says certificate insufficient for DepEd fund liquidation
A Philippine Army colonel testified in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial that a certificate he issued for a youth summit could not serve as valid documentation for the Department of Education's fund liquidation before the Commission on Audit.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Col. Magtanggol Panopio of the Philippine Army testified that the certificate he provided regarding a youth summit organized by the Department of Education under then-Secretary Sara Duterte was not intended to function as a supporting document for the agency's financial liquidation before the Commission on Audit.
Panopio's testimony came during the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the Vice President, where questions have been raised about the proper accounting and use of DepEd funds during her tenure as education secretary.
The officer's statement suggests potential documentation gaps in how the Department of Education handled its finances related to the youth summit activity. The Commission on Audit typically requires comprehensive supporting documents to validate government agency expenditures and fund utilization.
The testimony adds another layer to the examination of financial procedures and accountability measures within the Department of Education during the period when Duterte headed the agency. The impeachment trial continues to explore questions surrounding the management of departmental resources.