Atty. Resty Osias, Director IV and Bids and Awards Committee VI Chairperson of the Department of Education (DepEd), revealed that he received cash-filled envelopes during the tenure of Vice President Sara Duterte as Education Secretary.
Osias disclosed this during the third House panel hearing, stating that he initially thought it was a common practice within the department, as he was new when it occurred in April 2023.
He added that he had no prior knowledge of the reason for his summons to the office of ASEC Shine Fajarda, where he was handed the envelope containing money.
Osias mentioned that he was called four times between April and September 2023, receiving between P12,000 and P15,000 on each occasion.
The distribution of cash envelopes allegedly ceased in the fourth quarter of the same year.
Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano pointed out that the stoppage coincided with the period when DepEd could no longer utilize its confidential funds due to the emerging controversy surrounding the issue.