DepEd usec killed in crash

BATANGAS, Philippines  – A high-ranking official of the Department of Education (DepEd) died in a motorcycle accident in Antipolo, Rizal yesterday.

DepEd Undersecretary for finance and administration Francisco Varela died when his motorcycle skidded while on the main highway in Tanay and Baras towns.

Varela was pronounced dead on arrival at the Padilla District Hospital in Antipolo City.

The Baras town police, however, could not comment on where the accident occurred.

“We’re still checking on where was the exact location of the accident since we didn’t receive any incident report regarding the accident,” PO3 Melvin Apurungao of the Baras police station said.

Apurungao said based on what they gathered from the hospital, a certain Raymond Mallari brought Varela to the emergency room around 10:45 a.m.

He said Mallari told the hospital emergency staff that the victim figured in a fatal accident somewhere in Sitio Mariloque in Tanay.

The DepEd expressed its condolences to the family of Varela.

“We are one with his family in this difficult time and one with the nation in mourning the loss of an extraordinary public servant,” the DepEd said.

“Usec. Varela has been very instrumental in forging ahead education reforms, particularly in ensuring that every cent in the education budget is spent judiciously,” the DepEd said.

“He was a staunch advocate of anti-corruption efforts in the department and played a very important role in instituting reforms to ensure that ethical standards are observed in all transactions involving the agency. A highly principled man, a sharp mind, a willingness to make tough decisions and compassion for the Filipino learner were all hallmarks of Usec. Varela’s five years in DepEd.”

According to the DepEd’s website, Valera was an investment banker by profession. He graduated magna cum laude with a mathematics degree from the Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.

Valera was former chief operating officer and president of AsianBank Capital and Investment Corp. He was also a former head of strategic planning and corporate communications of the AB Capital Group. – Janvic Mateo