Business · Philippines Bureau
Army official suggests DepEd may have self-funded youth leadership programs
A Philippine Army colonel testified Tuesday that the Department of Education could have used its own budget for 2023 youth training initiatives, though the source of funds remains unclear. The testimony raises questions about potential use of confidential allocations for the programs.
LSN Philippines ·
An Army official suggested on Tuesday that the Department of Education may have financed youth leadership summits in 2023 using internal budget resources, though authorities have not confirmed whether confidential funds were involved.
Philippine Army Col. Manaros Boransing II made the assertion while testifying for the prosecution, indicating that DepEd could have independently funded the youth training programs without external support. However, he acknowledged uncertainty regarding the specific source of the money, including whether classified or confidential allocations played a role.
The testimony comes amid ongoing scrutiny of government expenditures related to youth development initiatives. Officials have not yet provided detailed accounting of the funds in question or clarified the budget classification under which the programs were conducted.
The case remains under investigation, with authorities working to establish the precise financial mechanisms used for the 2023 youth leadership summits and determine compliance with budgeting regulations and transparency requirements.