Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764026614880cropped-Screen Shot 2025-11-25 at 7.22.16 AM.png" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Education (DepEd) is seen at its headquarters in Pasig City on February 6, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>MANILA — During the Senate deliberations for the Department of Education’s budget on Monday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros highlighted during the interpellation an alleged incident of corruption in the Senior High School Voucher Program.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/deped-files-raps-vs-7-schools-over-ghost-beneficiaries-in-voucher-program-1616">DepEd files raps vs 7 schools over &#x27;ghost&#x27; beneficiaries in voucher program</a></div><p>She mentioned that thousands of alleged “ghost students” were enrolled from 2021 to 2024 under the senior high school program in Pangasinan, and that the complainant was even threatened after raising concerns.</p><p>“Alam po ba ito ng DepEd? Kung ganon, ano po ang naging aksyon dito? May naparusahan ba?” asked Hontiveros</p><p>Budget sponsor Sen. Win Gatchalian confirmed that there are indeed ongoing investigations involving the schools implicated.</p><p>“The DepEd sila mismo nakakita nitong mga ghost students at inaksyunan ho nila kaagad,&quot; replied Gatchalian</p><p>In fact, charges have already been filed against 7 of the schools involved in the “ghost students” anomaly, while 22 others are still under investigation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/6/-ghost-students-55-schools-removed-from-deped-voucher-program-1649">&#x27;Ghost students&#x27;? 55 schools removed from DepEd voucher program</a></div><p>Gatchalian also said that two DepEd employees have already had charges filed against them.</p><p>If proven, the 22 schools currently under investigation will also face charges to be filed by the DepEd within the year.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/17/deped-probing-12-private-schools-possibly-defrauding-voucher-program-1900">DepEd probing 12 private schools possibly defrauding &#x27;voucher program&#x27;</a></div><p>The list of schools will be disclosed to Hontiveros by the DepEd, but cannot be made public due to the ongoing investigation.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PgZkmoeC63A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>If proven, the 22 schools currently under investigation will also face charges to be filed by the DepEd within the year.</p>

If proven, the 22 schools currently under investigation will also face charges to be filed by the DepEd within the year.

22 other schools under investigation over 'ghost students'

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22 other schools under investigation over 'ghost students'

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 25, 2025 07:25 AM PHT

|

Updated November 25, 2025 08:06 AM PHT

Read More:

Education

K to 12

Hontiveros

Senate

Ghost students

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