A third official from the Department of Education has admitted receiving envelopes with cash inside during the tenure of Vice President Sara Duterte as agency head.

DepEd Chief Accountant Ma. Rhunna Catalan revealed at a House hearing on Tuesday that she received envelopes with money inside last year. Catalan, who has been with DepEd for 36 years, said she received envelopes nine times from February to September 2023.

Prior to the questions on the envelopes, Catalan was grilled by lawmakers for signing a liquidation report for P112.5 million in confidential funds without checking the supporting documents.

FULL STORY: https://news.abscbn.com/news/2024/11...

00:00 Rhunna Catalan says she was "made to sign" a liquidaton report (Highlights)
00:45 Catalan is asked if she ever received envelopes from Sunshine Fajarda (Highlights)
01:53 Catalan is asked if the envelopes of cash were a "form of pressure" to sign the report (Highlights)
02:57 Catalan is interpellated by Joseph Stephen Paduano on her signing of the liquidation report
06:29 Commission on Audit's Sofia Gemora explains Catalan's mandate based on joint circular
08:03 Joel Chua interpellates Catalan
09:27 Paduano continues interpellation of Catalan
13:07 Catalan answers Paduano's allegation that she did "not bother" to check the liquidation report
15:00 Catalan says she was "requested," not pressured, to the sign the document
15:28 Catalan says it was Fajarda who made the "request"
18:30 Catalan confirms she received envelopes of cash from Fajarda containing P25,000 each for nine months
19:56 Paduano, Dong Gonzales interpellate Catalan
23:45 "Were you requested or were you pressured?" Bienvenido Abante asks Catalan
26:59 Abante: "My heart goes out to you, Ms. Catalan"
27:55 Abante insists Fajarda's envelopes were a form of pressure so Catalan would sign the document
28:52 Catalan: "I'm so nervous right now, your honor"
31:44 Abante says the envelopes of cash were "subtle bribery"

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