Manila Bulletin
'Kahit mag-helicopter': 'Impossible disbursement' casts bigger shadow on OVP, DepEd confidential funds use
1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez questioned the physical impossibility of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education's (DepEd) claims regarding the disbursement of confidential funds.
Gutierrez cited instances where special disbursing officers (SDOs) Gina Acosta from the OVP and Edward Fajarda from DepEd allegedly distributed funds across multiple, geographically distant locations in a single day.
Fajarda reportedly made seven disbursements on February 21, 2023, the day after encashing a P37.5 million check, across locations including Malolos, Davao, San Francisco (Agusan del Sur), Makati City, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Davao City.
Even more incredibly, Fajarda allegedly made 26 disbursements nationwide on March 15, 2023, prompting Gutierrez to state that even with a helicopter, it would be impossible to complete.
Gutierrez questioned how SDO Fajarda could personally certify these transactions across the Philippines.
Fajarda and Acosta have been cited in contempt by the committee, with arrest orders issued due to their repeated absences from hearings.
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