DepEd backs Ombudsman probe into P2.4-B laptop deal

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday, 12 July, assured it will fully cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman, which has ordered the filing of graft and falsification charges against its former secretary and several other officials for the procurement of "pricey" and "outdated" laptops.

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft and falsification charges against former Education Secretary Leonor Briones and other former officials in connection with the purchase of P2.4 billion worth of allegedly overpriced and outdated laptops in 2021.

The DepEd under the previous administration was flagged by the Commission on Audit for the procurement of the said laptops during the distance-learning setup brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the DepEd said it acknowledges the Resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman to file charges for alleged violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Falsification under Article 171, and Perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code against Briones and other DepEd officials.

"We emphasize that the officials subject of these charges no longer serve in the Department and have no official role or connection to DepEd as of today," it said. "DepEd fully respects the processes of the Office of the Ombudsman and is committed to supporting the fair and expeditious resolution of this case."

The DepEd assured that it is prepared to provide all relevant documents, information, and assistance necessary to aid in the pursuit of truth, accountability, and justice.

"Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Angara, DepEd is implementing critical reforms to strengthen transparency, ensure prudent use of public funds, and restore the integrity of procurement systems. We remain focused on delivering quality education and safeguarding public trust," it added.

Blue Ribbon findings

In 2023, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee found that the laptop procurement was attended by “manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross, inexcusable negligence”, when the DepEd purchased entry-level laptops for P58,300 each, despite being equipped with outdated Celeron processors.

These findings reinforced the earlier report by the Commission on Audit, which flagged the transaction as both wasteful and inefficient. The overpriced laptops significantly reduced the total number of units delivered, leaving thousands of public school teachers without the devices they needed during the peak of remote learning.