MANILA, April 18 -- Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III slammed allegations concerning the "non-payment" of grants for Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).

"Charges laid against me lack merit and are purely unsubstantiated allegations," de Vera said in a statement late Wednesday.

The CHED chief's remarks came after the filing of a complaint against him before the Ombudsman for neglect of duties and responsibilities as a public official in relation to the alleged non-disbursement of the TES tranches for academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

The accusations came from several complainants at the Marvelous College of Technology and the Marvelous College and Goldenstate College of Koronadal City, followi...