Ex-DepEd Official Cites Reliance on Reports Over Secret Funds Query

MANILA — Michael Poa, who previously served as chief of staff of the Department of Education, testified on Wednesday that he relied upon reports submitted by other officials when drafting DepEd's formal response to questions raised by the Commission on Audit concerning the agency's handling of confidential funds.

Poa's statement came as part of ongoing inquiries into the department's use of discretionary spending. The former official indicated that his response to the audit body was based on information provided by colleagues within the education department rather than direct personal knowledge of the transactions in question.

However, investigators have found that some of the officials whose reports Poa cited as the basis for his response were themselves lacking in the completeness and accuracy of the information they provided. This has raised questions about the reliability of DepEd's official accounting to the Commission on Audit.

The matter adds to growing scrutiny over the management of confidential and discretionary funds within the Department of Education, a key government agency responsible for the country's basic education system.