The Department of Education (DepEd) has confirmed that Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar has stepped down from his post.

According to Dennis Legaspi, Chief Media Relations Officer of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Olaivar has already submitted his resignation to Malacañang.

“We confirm that Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar has formally submitted his resignation to the Palace,” the DepEd told the reporters.

Olaivar had earlier gone on leave in September to allow a fair and impartial investigation into allegations linking him to corruption within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

His name surfaced during the previous Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, where former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo accused him of receiving kickbacks together with several members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In his sworn statement, Bernardo claimed that Olaivar allegedly demanded a 15 percent commission from unprogrammed appropriations intended for the Office of the Executive Secretary.

The affidavit said the supposed kickback collection occurred last year.

Olaivar, who previously served under former Senator Bong Revilla and Education Secretary Angara, has denied allegations that they received kickbacks from the government’s multibillion-peso infrastructure projects.