TACLOBAN CITY — Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre raised concerns over the Department of Education’s (DepEd) use of confidential funds during a House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing on Nov.
Acidre questioned the significant allocations aimed at addressing alleged student recruitment by subversive groups, citing a lack of concrete data to justify such expenditures. He underscored the importance of transparency, particularly when public funds are used for intelligence activities.
Acidre began by questioning retired Major General Nolasco Mempin, former DepEd Undersecretary for administration, regarding his qualifications for managing these funds, noting his administrative rather than educational background.
Mempin, who served briefly under Vice President Sara Duterte, explained that his appointment was based on his administrative expertise and leadership style.
Addressing the alleged student recruitment by subversive groups, Acidre sought data to substantiate these claims.
Mempin stated he did not have specific information but mentioned that the Armed Forces possessed intelligence reports on the matter.
DepEd Undersecretary Revsee Acuña Escobedo clarified that DepEd relied on external agencies such as the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) for data, as it lacked the capacity to independently gather intelligence.
Concluding his remarks, Acidre expressed doubts about the validity of the fund’s allocation, emphasizing that without empirical evidence, it is difficult to justify these expenditures.
He called for accountability to ensure public funds are used effectively, stressing that “every peso must serve the mission of education and the security of the next generation.”
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
