Two military officials took the witness stand at the impeachment court on Tuesday, September 1, to testify about their involvement in documents that the Department of Education allegedly used to liquidate P15.5 million in confidential funds during 2023, when Sara Duterte served as Education Secretary. Their testimonies marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing proceedings, as prosecutors attempted to establish a clearer picture of how the agency's discretionary budget was handled and whether proper protocols were followed.
The hearing brought fresh scrutiny to the department's financial management during a period when Duterte wielded significant control over DepEd's operations. The military men whose signatures appeared on the liquidation documents were called to explain the circumstances under which they authorized or witnessed the transactions, and whether they had direct knowledge of what the confidential funds were being used for.
Signatures and Documentation Under Scrutiny
Central to the impeachment court's line of questioning was the authenticity and context of the signatures on the documents submitted for the confidential funds' liquidation. Military officials are sometimes required to sign off on or witness financial transactions, particularly when government agencies coordinate with the armed forces on security-related matters or when military logistics are involved. However, the court sought to determine whether the military men fully understood the nature of the transactions they were endorsing, or whether their signatures were obtained under potentially misleading circumstances.
During their testimony, the military officials were asked to recount the circumstances of when and how they signed the documents, who approached them with the request, and what explanations were provided about the purpose of the confidential funds. These details could prove crucial in determining whether there was deliberate obfuscation of the funds' actual use or whether the military personnel were simply following standard bureaucratic procedure without full disclosure.
The DepEd's confidential and intelligence funds, historically a discretionary budget available to the department's leadership, have long been a source of controversy in Philippine governance. These funds are nominally intended for sensitive operations, security matters, or intelligence gathering that cannot be publicly disclosed for national security reasons. However, critics have raised persistent questions about whether such funds are sometimes misused for purposes outside their intended scope, including personal or political activities.
The 2023 Liquidation Process
The P15.5 million in question was liquidated in 2023, during the final months of Duterte's tenure as Education Secretary before she transitioned to her role as Vice President. Liquidation of confidential funds typically involves submitting documentation to justify the expenditure after the fact, rather than providing detailed breakdowns of how the money was spent, given the sensitive nature of confidential operations. This process inherently offers less transparency than ordinary government spending, which is why it has attracted significant oversight attention.
The impeachment court's focus on the military officials' involvement suggests that prosecutors are attempting to establish whether proper authorization channels were followed and whether the military's participation in the liquidation process was routine or unusual. If the military men's signatures were obtained irregularly or if they later testified that they did not understand what they were authorizing, it could suggest that procedures were circumvented.
Throughout the impeachment proceedings, the prosecution has built a broader narrative questioning Duterte's management of DepEd's finances. The focus on confidential funds is particularly significant because it touches on one of the few areas where government officials operate with minimal public accountability. The court's willingness to call military witnesses demonstrates that the impeachment panel is committed to examining even peripheral figures who may have facilitated the disputed transactions.
Broader Implications for Government Accountability
The testimonies heard on September 1 carry implications beyond the immediate questions about Duterte's conduct as Education Secretary. They speak to a larger issue about how confidential and intelligence funds are managed across the Philippine government and whether safeguards exist to prevent their misuse. The involvement of military officials in the liquidation process raises questions about whether civilian and military branches of government adequately cross-check one another's expenditures or whether they sometimes enable questionable spending through routine cooperation.
As the impeachment trial continues, each witness brought before the court adds another piece to the evidentiary puzzle. The military officials' accounts of signing the liquidation documents, their understanding of the funds' purpose, and the circumstances surrounding their involvement could either strengthen the prosecution's case or provide the defense with material to argue that standard procedures were properly followed.
What remains clear is that the court views the signatures of these military men as sufficiently important to the case that their in-person testimony was warranted, rather than accepting submitted affidavits or documentary evidence alone. Their presence at the witness table underscores the impeachment court's determination to examine every step in the process that led to the P15.5 million confidential fund liquidation.