Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The Department of Education (DepEd) is seen at its headquarters in Pasig City on February 6, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173978878013120250206-building facades-JC-7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><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. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said it was investigating 12 private schools across 9 divisions for allegedly having &quot;ghost students&quot; in order to illegally avail of the Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/8/-p14-billion-a-year-senator-says-non-poor-students-benefiting-from-deped-voucher-program-925">Non-poor students benefiting from DepEd voucher program: lawmaker</a></div><p>“We take these allegations seriously. Any form of misuse of public funds intended for critical education programs will not be tolerated. This investigation is a necessary step as we pursue the truth and hold accountable those responsible,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said.</p><p>At a Senate hearing last year, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that more than 19,000 &quot;ghost&quot; or undocumented students were benefitting from the voucher program, citing the 2016 and 2018 reports from the Commission on Audit (COA).</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/21/schools-begin-refund-of-gov-t-subsidies-after-irregularities-in-deped-voucher-program-1415">Schools begin refund of gov&#x27;t subsidies after irregularities in DepEd voucher program</a></div><p>According to DepEd, the schools proven to be involved in such &quot;fraudulent activity&quot; could result in the termination of a school’s participation in the Senior High School Voucher Program.</p><p>&quot;The Department is also exploring potential legal measures against those found culpable, including administrative and criminal sanctions, in accordance with existing laws and regulations,&quot; the DepEd said.</p><p>The DepEd had previously announced that some schools with reported irregularities in the implementation of the voucher program have started refunding the government subsidies given to them.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></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/JHH988a_OSw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>DepEd said the schools proven to be involved in such "fraudulent activity" could result in the termination of their participation in the SHS Voucher Program.</p>

DepEd said the schools proven to be involved in such "fraudulent activity" could result in the termination of their participation in the SHS Voucher Program.

DepEd probing 12 private schools possibly defrauding 'voucher program'

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DepEd probing 12 private schools possibly defrauding 'voucher program'

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Published Feb 17, 2025 07:00 PM PHT

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