MBHTE scrutinized over alleged anomalies

The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is under scrutiny for alleged anomalous transactions, including a reported single-day disbursement of P1.7 billion.

This comes as some anonymous insiders are calling on the Office of the President and the Commission on Audit to investigate testimonies and information regarding questionable dealings within the MBHTE.

They alleged that the ministry was involved in a P1.7 billion payment for Learner's and Teacher's Kits which was made on 7 March 2025 and alleged that it was disbursed in a single day without proper oversight.

They also alleged that the transaction did not undergo review and signature by the Finance Division Chief, a standard procedure required to ensure completeness, legality, and compliance with government rules and policies.

The MBHTE, led by Minister Mohagher Mohammad Iqbal, manages BARMM's largest budget, totaling P36 billion, which accounts for one-third of the region's total budget.

Another incident cited involved the alleged procurement for the In-Service Training for Teachers (INSET) program, scheduled for August 2022.

The training, designed to enhance teacher competencies, was allegedly postponed due to conflicts related to hotel accommodations. INSET was slated to run for one week across four locations -- General Santos City, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Cotabato City.