Politics · Philippines Bureau
DepEd secret funds did not finance youth summits, ex-official testifies
Former Department of Education chief of staff Michael Poa told the Senate impeachment court that no confidential funds under ex-Secretary Sara Duterte were used for military youth leadership programs in 2023.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Department of Education did not allocate any confidential funds toward the military's Youth Leadership Summits in 2023, according to testimony presented at the Senate impeachment proceedings on Wednesday.
Michael Poa, who served as chief of staff to then-Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, made the assertion while appearing before the impeachment court. His statement addresses ongoing scrutiny over the use of DepEd's confidential budget during Duterte's tenure as department head.
The Youth Leadership Summits, organized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, had drawn questions from lawmakers investigating how government agencies allocated discretionary funds. Poa's testimony provides clarity on whether education department resources were directed toward the military programs.
The impeachment proceedings have intensified examination of spending practices across several government agencies during the period when Duterte headed the education portfolio. The confidential funds in question fall under budget classifications that have historically been difficult to track in detail.