Malacañang on Wednesday pointed to unresolved issues within the Department of Education that it said stemmed from Vice President Sara Duterte’s tenure as agency chief, following her recent criticisms of the administration.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said, “Lahat ng multong ito ng Bise Presidente nung siya ay DepEd secretary huwag niya ipahid kay Pangulo at ang mga kalat na ito ay ngayon niya winawalis at nililinis,” asserting that Duterte should not blame President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for problems that allegedly originated under her leadership.

Ghost students in voucher program

Among the most controversial issues linked to Duterte’s time in DepEd was the Senior High School Voucher Program.

The Commission on Audit flagged cases of so-called “ghost students,” referring to beneficiaries whose participation in the program could not be verified. Audit findings cited multiple entries and unsubstantiated claims that led to overpayments, raising concerns over the use of public funds intended for indigent students.

Under the current DepEd leadership, schools with questionable claims have been investigated, funds have been subjected to recovery efforts, and institutions found noncompliant have been removed from the voucher program. At least 55 schools were reportedly excluded following discrepancies tied to alleged ghost beneficiaries.

Push for accountability

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has pledged to strengthen monitoring systems and pursue legal remedies against fraud.

Authorities are preparing administrative and criminal sanctions against personnel or school officials linked to irregularities, with officials saying the goal is to restore public trust and ensure that subsidies reach legitimate beneficiaries.

Beyond the voucher controversy, DepEd has also faced scrutiny over other aspects of fund utilization. Legislative inquiries and audit reports have repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of education funds — issues that predated Duterte’s term but persisted during and after her leadership.

Palace officials said Castro’s remarks underscore that transitions in leadership often bring lingering issues to light and that current reforms are meant to address systemic weaknesses rather than deflect responsibility.