Independent maternity leave scam probe urged

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) official who bared the alleged maternity leave scam involving a teacher in Taguig is pushing an independent investigation into the matter.

Ellery Quintia, curriculum implementation division chief of the DepEd Division of Taguig City and Pateros, told The STAR yesterday that he is not inclined to cooperate with the task force established by the agency’s regional office in the National Capital Region (NCR).

He raised doubts on the independence of the task force, noting that some of those in the regional office came from their division. He also noted previous complaints he filed before the DepEd central office, which he said remained unresolved after several years.

Instead, Quintia called for an investigation conducted by an independent body, such as the National Bureau of Investigation.

Panel formed

In a statement yesterday, the DepEd-NCR said regional director Wilfredo Cabral has constituted a fact-finding committee to conduct an internal examination of records and verify Quintia’s allegations.

Cabral encouraged Quintia to forward to the committee his sworn statement and “all pertinent documents and evidence that he claimed to have gathered relative to the matter to help in the investigation.”

“Also, DepEd-NCR calls on individuals and/or personnel who have information on the matter to come forward and participate in the investigation process,” said the regional office.

“Finally, DepEd-NCR, in close coordination with the DepEd Central Office Legal Affairs, ensures the public and all concerned individuals of a fair and impartial investigation on the matter,” it added.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said she will endorse the matter to the DepEd’s legal division. She also urged other personnel with knowledge of such incidents to immediately report these to agency officials.

P.5 million benefits

Quintia earlier alleged that a teacher in Taguig City received maternity leave benefits 11 times in a span of three years.

Documents he released to the media showed that the teacher supposedly received almost P500,000 through her payroll account.

The STAR, which saw copies of these documents, could not independently verify its authenticity.

The teacher, in separate interviews with ABS-CBN and GMA News, denied receiving the benefits.

Quintia said he believes that the teacher is aware of what happened, unless someone else has her ATM card or the money was deposited to a different account.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers also called for an independent and thorough investigation of the alleged scam, saying “it is unimaginable for a regular public school teacher to have masterminded and executed such a racketeering act.”