Manila, Feb. 19 -- The Department of Education (DepEd) Ilocos regional office has denied allegations that public funds were funneled through the enrollment of non-existent or "ghost students" in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program using Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program.

In a statement posted on its official page Tuesday night, DepEd Ilocos Director Tolentino Aquino dismissed the accusations as baseless, malicious, and fabricated, claiming they were intended to discredit the department and its personnel.

"These concocted lies detailed in the complaint are a product of the complainant's imaginative and misguided mind, purposely seeking to destroy, defame, and taint the good reputation we have earned," Aquino said.

The c...