With the topic at hand still being the controversial confidential funds utilized during her time as the Secretary of Education.
On Tuesday, September 1, the Senate Impeachment Court resumed proceedings and heard the next matter regarding Article I or the case on the alleged misuse of the confidential funds being brought up by the prosecution panel—the disbursement of the PHP112.5 million confidential funds by the Department of Education.
First to be called as witness of the 20th day of the trial was Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Col. Manaros Boransing II, who testified regarding the 2023 Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) or the Information Education Communication (IEC) campaign aimed at stopping the recruitment of students by extremist groups.
Boransing was the Assistant Chief of Staff for civil and military operations of the First Tabak Division of the AFP, which was responsible for supervising YLS/IEC activities between January and December 2023.
He noted that funding for the said activities came from various national government agencies and different local government units, including the Department of Education.
Boransing was also asked about his knowledge about the usage of the DepEd’s confidential funds for the program, he only told that it is possible and said that he only knew about his certification being used in the Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) of the Commission on Audit during a Lower House hearing as he is not part of the intelligence office.
He also told that the said certification was purportedly used to justify the Department of Education’s usage of the PHP15.54 million in confidential funds, where it was used to prove the success of information gathering or surveillance activity.
After him, AFP Col. Magtanggol Panopio, who said that a certification he issued for the youth summit was not a valid supporting document for liquidation before the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Medyo nagulat po kami kasi yun pong aming certification is only for the certification that we conducted the Youth Leadership Summit. Hindi po namin sine-certify anything about money or funds,” Panopio noted that they were surprised to know that their certifications were used.
On the 21st day, meanwhile, Atty. Michael Poa, who is also part of the defense team, was presented as the next hostile witness in the said trial having served as the former Chief of Staff and Undersecretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure.
A skirmish occurred early into the trial day when prosecutor Atty. Benjamin Tolosa, Jr. uttered “abogadong walang alam” in his offer of testimony, a line that was requested by the defense to be stricken off the records and was granted by the Impeachment Court.
“Chair finds it discourteous, to say the least, and should not be used in relation to a fellow lawyer, especially,” said Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero.
During the prosecution’s direct examination, Poa admitted that the confidential funds were not used in the AFP’s YLS in 2023 and affirmed that the COA told that the DepEd’s liquidation reports were lacking documentary evidence.
While Poa confirmed that he told the Special Disbursement Officer that documents evidencing success for the payment of rewards were needed, he said he has personal knowledge how these were used.
He also added that it was VP Duterte and former DepEd Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Edward Fajarda who are privy to the use of confidential funds.
Meanwhile, the Senate also announced changes in the schedule of the trial to accommodate the hearings for the 2027 national budget.
On the dates of October 1, 2, October 5 to 9, and October 12 to 15, proceedings will take place from 10:00 am to the evening, with legislative session not occurring on that day. There will also be trials on November 9, 16, and from November 23 onwards.
Moreover, Rep. Joel Chua told that there are plans to drop sone articles of impeachment to shorten the period of the trial, which has been running for two months already. Although, no final decisions have been made regarding that.
