VP Sara Duterte’s Alleged Role in Cash Distribution to DepEd Superintendents Revealed

Title: Allegations of Fund Misuse in DepEd Involving Vice President Sara Duterte

Introduction

Edward Fajarda, a former special disbursing officer (SDO) of the Department of Education (DepEd), testified that Vice President Sara Duterte instructed him to collect bank details from school superintendents in Central Visayas. This was purportedly to send them cash payments.

Key Points from the Investigation

• During a House inquiry, Representative Jude Acidre questioned Fajarda about his communications with superintendents regarding bank accounts.
• Fajarda confirmed he reached out to superintendents, saying, “Actually, I was instructed by VP Sara.”
• Screenshots from a group chat among Central Visayas superintendents showed discussions about Fajarda requesting their bank account details for monthly allowances.
• Some officials expressed concern about the request, suggesting it seemed suspicious.

Distribution of Cash

Fajarda clarified that he provided cash to some superintendents who had incurred expenses for fieldwork. He stated that not all superintendents were involved, but further details on who was selected were not clear.

Congressional Response

The House panel plans to invite superintendents to testify. Previous hearings revealed that other DepEd officials also received cash from Duterte, raising concerns about potential bribery given her own “no-gift policy” in the department.

Conclusion

These testimonies have led to increased scrutiny of practices within DepEd under Duterte’s leadership, as lawmakers investigate the implications of these actions on ethics and governance in education.