The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the National Capital Region (NCR) has convicted an individual for attempting to defraud the government's voucher program. The Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary expressed relief at the ruling, stating that it sends a clear message that cheating the public system will not be tolerated. The accused submitted falsified billing statements to defraud the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP), but the RTC decision is subject to appeal.
The conviction carries penalties of up to 14 years, eight months, and two days of imprisonment, along with a fine of P100,000 for the two counts of the offense. The DepEd Secretary emphasized that the voucher program was designed to provide opportunities for students, not to line the pockets of fraudsters. The program provides tuition subsidies to eligible Grade 11 learners to enroll in participating private institutions, covering two consecutive years of Senior High School.
The proposed expansion of the voucher assistance program, known as the Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act, was approved in the bicameral conference committee in June. The bill aims to extend the program from Kindergarten to Grade 12, giving more students access to private schools and decongesting public schools nationwide. The proposed legislation will be submitted to both the House and the Senate for ratification before being signed into law.
