The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay who is now running for President under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) accused its rival candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for the allege misuse of the anomalous P45.8 million Special Education Fund as the mayor allegedly committed technical malversation of funds.
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The controversial issue raised by VP Binay’s camp was based on the Commission on Audit Report as revealed by UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan. Quoting the audit report, the Binay camp said COA found that “various expenses charged to the Special Education Fund totaling ₱45,819,774.85 were inconsistent with the provisions of [Republic Act] No. 5447” or the SEF Act.
Under the law, the SEF may only be used “exclusively” for the following: extension cl(–foul word(s) removed–) for children entering Grade 1, improvement of elementary school facilities, printing or purchase of textbooks and teaching materials, payment of salaries of public school teachers, purchase or repair of vocational and laboratory machinery and equipment, educational research, scholarship grants, and the promotion of physical education.
According to UNA accusations, the City Hall of Davao City under Mayor Rodrigo Duterte spent the funds on unauthorized expenses such as plane fares of coaches and students, fuel for various vehicles, insurance premiums for vehicles, accident insurance for coaches and students, grocery items, medical supplies, and payment for electricity, water, and telephone bills, and medical supplies, according to the COA in auditing the city’s disbursement vouchers.
The UNA spokesperson former journalist Mon Ilagan also noted that if Mayor Duterte was really tough on crime and corruption as he projects himself to be, why is it that there were anomalies under his watch.
Mon Ilagan added further that Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is of technical malversation, or the criminal act of misappropriating the funds to other uses it was not intended for.