The country’s two top education agencies on Sunday rejected reports of a leadership dispute ahead of this week's ASEAN education ministers' meeting in Singapore.

In a joint statement, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) described as "false and misleading" an online report alleging CHEd chairperson Shirley Agrupis had challenged Education Secretary Sonny Angara's role in leading the Philippine delegation.

The 14th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting and its related sessions open Monday in Singapore.

"At no point did Chairperson Agrupis seek to lead the Philippine delegation or challenge Secretary Angara's designation as Head of Delegation," the agencies said, adding that Angara "has always been the duly designated Head of Delegation, consistent with established ASEAN protocols."

The joint statement followed an online report that cited purported internal government communications to allege Agrupis attempted to assume leadership of the delegation.

The report also questioned why the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had been consulted over the delegation's composition.

DepEd clarified that Agrupis was invited to join the delegation — not lead it — to ensure the country's higher education agenda would be represented alongside basic education priorities during the regional policy discussions.

Officials said Agrupis' participation is crucial to advancing three initiatives endorsed during the ASEAN Ministers' Roundtable hosted by CHED in Manila in June.

The agencies also dismissed suggestions that the involvement of the Department of Foreign Affairs reflected internal friction.

"DepEd sought guidance from the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure that appropriate diplomatic courtesies and protocol arrangements would be extended to Chairperson Agrupis as a Cabinet-level official," the statement said.