A former special disbursement officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) revealed during a House Committee hearing that he released between ₱4 million and ₱6 million weekly in confidential funds to a “security officer” designated by a colonel from the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).
The inquiry focused on the allocation and use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd under Vice President Sara Duterte. The disbursement officer, Fajarda, disclosed that in 2023, DepEd utilized ₱112.5 million in confidential funds.
Fajarda explained that he withdrew ₱37.5 million from the Land Bank of the Philippines’ DepEd branch and distributed the amount in weekly tranches to Colonel Dennis Nolasco, who was assigned by a Colonel Lachica from the VPSPG.
“I only disbursed to the security officer, no one else,” Fajarda stated. “The releases were done weekly, ranging from ₱4 million to ₱6 million.”
Details on Fund Usage
When questioned about how the confidential funds were spent, Fajarda deferred to Colonel Nolasco, stating, “I’m not the expert on this. Colonel Nolasco was the one in charge.”
This revelation is part of ongoing scrutiny into the handling of confidential funds under Vice President Duterte’s leadership in the DepEd.