Where Did the Money Go? P10.49 Million in DepEd Funds for Leadership Summits Unaccounted

The Findings of the Congressional Probe During a congressional investigation into the alleged misuse of funds by DepEd and the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Rep. Luistro highlighted a significant discrepancy. The certifications provided to state auditors to justify the expenditures only accounted for P4.05 million, leaving a substantial amount without clear documentation or purpose. This lack of accountability is alarming, especially in an era where transparency in government spending is paramount. Missing Details and Lack of Justification Luistro pointed out that four certifications aimed at clearing DepEd's P15.54 million disallowance lacked sufficient detail regarding which programs the agency's activities corresponded to. This absence of clarity raises serious concerns about how the remaining funds were utilized. Stakeholders are left wondering whether these funds were mismanaged or if they simply vanished without a trace. The Philippine Army's Involvement Adding another layer to this unfolding story, the Philippine Army, which was involved in conducting the youth leadership summits, has publicly stated that it was unaware of DepEd's confidential expenditures. The Army clarified that it did not utilize any of the agency's funds for these events, further complicating the narrative surrounding the missing money. This disconnect raises important questions about inter-agency communication and the oversight of public funds.