2 CHED commissioners face complaints for alleged misuse of gov’t funds

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Prospero de Vera III confirmed receiving complaints regarding two commissioners who allegedly misappropriated public funds and abused their power.

This came after Senator Risa Hontiveros, during the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing on the proposed 2024 budget of the commission on Monday, questioned de Vera regarding the complaints raised against two CHED commissioners—Aldrin Darilag and Jo Mark Libre—in September.

“Merong reklamo na ‘yung ibang commissioner daw namin ay kung mag-hold ng mga board meeting ay masyadong marami, masyadong madaming ang tao kasama, kaya masyadong magastos para sa state universities and colleges,” the CHED chairman said.

(There is a complaint that some commissioners hold meetings with too many people accompanying them, thus it becomes too expensive for state universities and colleges.)

“Merong ding reklamo na ang kanilang mga galaw, pag-ikot nila sa mga universities ay sagot lahat ng mga state universities,” he added.

(There is also a complaint that the commissioners’ activities and tours to universities are being shouldered by the state universities.)

Despite this, De Vera said he is not in a position to discipline the commissioners involved as they are presidential appointees. He said he already forwarded the complaints to the Office of the Executive Secretary.

The report came as a surprise for several legislators, particularly Senator Pia Cayetano, who sat as a member of the Board of Regents in some state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“I’m shocked by these allegations. I’m like really 'laglag-sa-upuan-ko' shocked kasi I remember when I was chairman of the Committee on Education, I was very specific with my representatives na lahat ng honoraria na matatanggap, kailangan ire-report sa akin kasi ayoko na may tinatanggap sila na hindi ko alam na labas doon sa alam kong puwede nilang tanggapin,” Cayetano said.

(I almost fell off my seat because of shock because I remember when I was chairman of the Committee on Education, I was very specific with my representatives that all the honoraria that they receive must be reported to me because I don't want them accepting something beyond what I know they could only accept.)

She said SUCs usually only hold quarterly meetings or six meetings at most annually, but found out that some of them conduct monthly board meetings.

Some of the meetings, she said, were even held in “extravagant venues” with “extravagant gifts” or honoraria given to attendees.

“I want to put on record that the reason I bring this up is because we cannot tolerate this,” Cayetano stressed.

CHED officials' side

Darilag and Libre, who were both present at the Senate hearing, both denied the allegations against them.

Senator Joel Villanueva asked Darilag if it is true that he was using public funds through the budget of SUCs to pay for his family’s travel expenses.

“That’s not true. Meron akong ebidensiya that would show na ako bumili ng ticket [I have evidence to prove that I bought the ticket]… My 24 SUC presidents can attest to my practice of holding board meetings and also my integrity as a commissioner,” Darilag answered.

Libre, meanwhile, said all the board meetings of the SUCs he handles were conducted in conference rooms of the universities, and not in hotels or resorts.

“All of the letter appears to be part of the organized attack on the integrity of yours truly. Second, regarding, with the conduct of the board meetings, those are actually with official travel and in fact, that’s actually the request of the respective SUC presidents,” he said.

For his part, de Vera said that CHED has existing resolutions and memorandum that state the do’s and don'ts of a chair designate of SUC boards.

“Ilalagay ko po sa memorandum na 'pag hindi sila sumunod ay tatanggalin ko po silang chair designate,” he added.

(I will put in the memorandum that if they do not comply, I will remove them as chair designate.) —KG, GMA Integrated News