The Department of Education (DepEd) on Sunday challenged presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao to identify the official within its ranks allegedly involved in corruption.
Pacquiao, during the PiliPinas Forum 2022, accused an unnamed DepEd official of receiving commissions amounting to 40% of the project cost.
"Hindi lang po ako nagsasalita, pero alam ko po ang mga nangyayari diyan sa DepEd. Ayaw ko lang ibulgar ngayon. Pagdating ng panahon, eh alam ko na kung paano ko halungkatin 'yan at itutuwid," Pacquiao previously said.
(I don’t want to say anything, but I know what’s happening inside DepEd. I don’t want to reveal anything now. But when the time comes, I know how to uncover that and straighten it out.)
In response to the accusation, DepEd said that while Pacquiao has the right to legally and morally question whatever wrongdoing, it is also his duty to identify the said individual.
"It is a moral duty for the good senator, being a candidate for the highest office in the land, to name names and/or identify, and not rely on generalities to put down the whole institution of the Department of Education," said DepEd in a statement.
The department stressed that it is "very dangerous" to attack the institution as it could affect the integrity of the elections, which are manned mostly by DepEd officials and employees.
"To allege any wrongdoing, unsupported by specific facts or without naming names, is tantamount to false accusation," said DepEd.
