Ombudsman Acts on DepEd Laptop Deal Charges
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft and falsification complaints against former Education Secretary Leonor Briones and several others. This decision relates to the P2.4 billion purchase of outdated laptops for public school teachers in 2021. The move follows investigations into alleged irregularities in the procurement process.
The four-word keyphrase “DepEd laptop deal charges” reflects the core issue as the Ombudsman targets those responsible for the controversial transaction. Alongside Briones, officials from the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have also been implicated.
Officials Named in DepEd Laptop Deal Charges
According to a 106-page resolution dated July 4, charges will be filed against PS-DBM chief Lloyd Christopher Lao and private respondent Froilan Domingo. Several DepEd officials are also included, such as Undersecretaries Annalyn Macam Sevilla and Alain Del Bustamante Pascua, Assistant Secretary Salvador Cacatian Malana III, and Directors IV Abram Yap Chai Abanil and Marcelo Bragado.
Other figures named are Undersecretary Alec Serquina Ladanga and Supervising Administrative Officer Selwyn Carillo Briones. On the PS-DBM side, Director IV and officer-in-charge Jasonmer Lagarto Uayan, along with several procurement officers, including Ulysses Evangelista Mora, Marwan Amil, and Paul Armand Abando Estrada, face charges as well.
Additional Legal Actions and Previous Investigations
The Ombudsman also ordered perjury charges against Lao, Sevilla, and Uayan. However, perjury complaints against Pascua and Malana were dismissed. These legal moves follow the Commission on Audit’s 2022 report, which flagged the DepEd for acquiring overpriced and outdated laptops amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s distance learning push.
In 2022, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, then led by former Senator Francis Tolentino, held a five-round inquiry into the laptop procurement. The investigation ended without further continuation, leaving concerns unresolved until the Ombudsman’s recent resolution.
Implications of the DepEd Laptop Deal Charges
The DepEd laptop deal charges highlight ongoing efforts to hold government officials accountable for procurement lapses. Sources noted that the overpriced and obsolete laptops undermined the government’s goal to enhance remote education during a critical period.
Meanwhile, local leaders emphasize the importance of transparency and good governance in future acquisitions to avoid similar controversies. As the legal process unfolds, stakeholders hope for justice and reforms to prevent misuse of public funds.
For more news and updates on DepEd laptop deal charges, visit Filipinokami.com.