A special disbursement officer from the Department of Education (DepEd) disclosed during a House Committee hearing on Good Government and Public Accountability that P4 million to P6 million in confidential funds were distributed weekly to a security officer under the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).
At the continuation of the inquiry into the use of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte’s offices, the officer, identified Edward Fajarda, revealed that DepEd allocated P112.5 million in confidential funds in 2023. The funds were withdrawn in tranches from the Land Bank of the Philippines and handed to Colonel Dennis Nolasco, a security officer assigned by a certain Colonel Lachica from the VPSPG.
Fajarda clarified that the weekly disbursements were not in lump sums but ranged between P4 million and P6 million. “Sa security officer lang po ako nagdi-disburse niyan. Wala na pong iba. Hindi po ‘yan buong P37.5 million na ibibigay sa kanya. Mostly weekly po yan,” Fajarda explained.
When pressed for details on how the funds were utilized, Fajarda deferred to Nolasco, stating, “Hindi po kasi ako ang expert dyan. Si Colonel Nolasco po. Siya po kasi ang gumawa niyan.” The hearing is part of ongoing efforts to investigate the allocation and use of confidential funds within the Office of the Vice President and DepEd.
