Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
Tesda chief denies authorizing P5-million fund offer to Lacson
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez has denied authorizing any P5-million allocation fund offer to Senator Panfilo Lacson, clarifying that no such directive came from his office.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Secretary and Director General Jose Francisco Benitez on Saturday denied involvement in any proposal to offer a P5-million allocation fund to Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.
Benitez stated that he did not authorize any individual to make such an offer on behalf of the agency. "As TESDA Secretary, I did not authorize anyone to offer any allocation or one amounting to P5 million," Benitez said in a statement addressing the matter.
The denial comes amid reports linking the alleged fund offer to Lacson, a prominent senator known for his advocacy on various legislative issues. The specific circumstances surrounding the claim and how it emerged remain unclear.
Benitez's statement represents an official disavowal of unauthorized actions allegedly conducted in the name of Tesda. The agency, a government body responsible for skills development and technical education programs, did not provide further details regarding the alleged offer or any investigation into the matter.