VP Sara’s anti-corruption probe served ‘personal interests’ – Palace

Malacañang accused Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday of pursuing “personal interests” during her time as Education Secretary, countering her claim that her confidential funds were used to investigate corruption in the Department of Education (DepEd).

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte’s actions while leading the agency contradicted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priorities and could not be framed as part of a genuine anti-corruption effort.

“Hindi talaga niya malalaman ang direktiba ng Pangulo kung hindi siya marunong makinig at nagsasarili ng diskarte para sa pansariling interest,” Castro said.

The Palace’s statement came after Duterte revealed that her P112.5 million confidential fund in 2023 was used to investigate alleged anomalies within DepEd, including the P2.4-billion overpriced laptop deal.

“There were many reports of corruption inside the Department of Education, not just in the central office, but also the regional offices,” Duterte said. “So, whenever there are reports, we will investigate, and one of those we investigated was the laptop [deal],” she added.

Duterte said her office looked into the procurement of allegedly overpriced laptops involving Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., founded by former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.

She claimed, however, that their findings showed the transaction “did not happen” within DepEd but in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“So, not all the procurement documents are in the DepEd,” Duterte said. “What we could only do back then was to blacklist [companies],” she added.

She admitted they were unable to blacklist the firms involved, saying “our hands were tied” and that her team relied on the Commission on Audit’s fraud audit and Senate hearings to determine accountability.

Her remarks marked the first time she gave a specific explanation for how her confidential funds were used, after months of refusing to disclose details amid mounting questions on transparency.

But the Palace questioned her narrative, pointing to alleged irregularities that occurred under her leadership, including reports of “ghost students” and the delivery of spoiled food to learners in feeding programs.

“Hindi rin direktiba ng Pangulo ang ginawa noon ng DepEd sa pamumuno ng bise presidente na magdeliver ng bulok, may amag na pagkain sa mga estudyante sa feeding program,” Castro said.