Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6) – Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao, who has vowed to cleanse the government, made a fresh allegation of corruption, this time against the Department of Education (DepEd).
The senator claimed the quality of education in the country fails to improve because the allocated budget is not properly utilized.
“Hindi lang po ako nagsasalita, pero alam ko po ang mga nangyayari dyan sa DepEd…Ayaw ko lang ibulgar ngayon. Pagdating ng panahon, eh alam ko na kung paano ko halungkatin ‘yan at itutuwid,” Pacquiao said during an interview aired on Friday, and organized by the Commission on Elections and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.
[Translation: I’m just not speaking publicly, but I’m aware of what is happening in DepEd…I just don’t want to reveal it now. When the time comes, I know what to investigate and to correct.]
Prodded for more details, Pacquiao said he knows someone from the department who is demanding illicit payments.
“Sa DepEd, may kakilala pa ako dyan, hindi pumapayag na bumababa ng 40% ang mapunta sakanya,” he said, although he refused to name the person or identify the rank.
[Translation: I also know someone from DepEd who wants to be paid at least 40% of the contract.]
He added that instead of declaring an education crisis, which his rival candidate Vice President Leni Robredo plans to do if elected, a better move would be an overhaul of the department.
Last year, Pacquiao became the subject of President Rodrigo Duterte’s ire after he claimed the current administration is more corrupt than its predecessor.
He also recently said he will review all government deals to ensure there are no irregularities.
“Lahat ng government contract re-review-hin natin. Tignan natin. And then ‘yung ibang agency na sinabi ko na imbestigahan ko rin at may mga corruption, DOH (Department of Health) at saka DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), ‘yan po, at ‘yung DA (Department of Agriculture),” he said in the Comelec-KBP interview.
[Translation: We will review all government contracts, including those from agencies that I said we will investigate for corruption, like DOH, DSWD, and DA.]
Apart from those mentioned, Pacquiao also earlier accused the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of being corrupt.
