COTABATO CITY – Alleged corruption and years of administrative neglect during the tenure of former MBHTE minister Mohagher Iqbal came under intense scrutiny in Bangsamoro Transition Authority parliament hearing, where lawmakers uncovered a string of irregularities ranging from an alleged “slot-for-sale” scheme, the prolonged non-appointment of about 30,000 teachers and administrative workers, unpaid GSIS contributions and a seven-year personnel migration backlog.

The joint oversight hearing by the Committee on Basic, Higher and Technical Education, chaired by MP Dr. Tomanda Antok, and the Committee on Finance, Budget and Management, headed by MP Atty. Kitem Kadatuan Jr., examined lingering issues raised in previous budget deliberations, Education Commission II findings, and the latest Commission on Audit report.

Lawmakers zeroed in on alleged anomalies during Iqbal’s stewardship of the education ministry, particularly reports that teaching positions were sold for as much as ₱300,000 each, a practice they said contributed to more than 10,000 plantilla positions remaining vacant despite increasing student enrolment across the Bangsamoro region.

The hearing also revealed that some 30,000 teachers and administrative personnel across the Bangsamoro region have remained without permanent appointment for years, leaving thousands of education workers in prolonged employment uncertainty. Lawmakers questioned why the appointments had remained pending despite repeated discussions in previous oversight hearings, saying the delays have disrupted personnel management and affected the efficient delivery of education services.

More issues were brought to light during the marathon deliberations like years of delayed and unremitted GSIS contributions for teachers, a seven-year delay in transferring personnel from the old ARMM structure to the Bangsamoro bureaucracy through the migration of plantilla items from the national Department of Budget and Management to the regional Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management, and instances of two individuals allegedly receiving salaries under a single plantilla item.

Tensions escalated as holdover officials from the previous administration struggled to explain the irregularities, drawing sharp rebukes from members of Parliament.

“Last year pa natin ito dinidiscuss, di pa rin ninyo naaayos yan. My God!” MP Khalid Hadji Abdullah said during the hearing.

MP Datu Michael Midtimbang challenged the officials directly: “Kung hindi nyo kaya, magresign kayo!”

MP Ma-arouph Candao lamented the impact of corruption on the education sector, saying, “Napagiiwanan na ang region sa educational status dahil sa mga ganitong usapin lalo na ang corruption.”

MP Zul Bayam likewise demanded accountability, asking, “Ano ba ito, mafia ba kayo?”

Deputy Speaker Baintan Ampatuan described the seven-year migration delay as “gross negligence,” saying, “Pitong taon? Isang taon lang may kaso ka na e. This is gross negligence, Mr. Chair!”

The hearing stretched from day into night as lawmakers sought detailed explanations and corrective measures from concerned officials. It also marked part of the ongoing transition under Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who has assumed direct supervision of the education ministry.

Lawmakers said the findings underscored the need to address long-standing problems inherited by the ministry, with the BTA and the Macacua administration pledging to pursue accountability, implement reforms, and restore public confidence in the Bangsamoro education system.