THE DEPARTMENT of Education confirmed that the Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla in connection with the acquisition of overpriced laptops for teachers.

“The Department of Education has received an Order from the Office of the Ombudsman, in relation to the alleged overpriced laptops, preventively suspending one of our current officials, Undersecretary Annalyn M. Sevilla, for the duration of the proceedings but not to exceed six months,” the DepEd said in a statement.

DepEd vowed to adhere to due process and follow the Ombudsman’s order.

The agency also assured the public of its unhampered services “as we prepare for a safe and orderly opening of School Year 2023-2024.”

The Ombudsman has suspended for six months withouth pay former and current DepEd and DBM officials over the alleged overpriced procurement of laptops for teachers in the past administration.

Put under preventive suspension were Sevilla, former DepEd undersecretary Alain del Pascua, former Department of Budget and Management undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Administration and Procurement, Salvador Malana III, Director Abram Abanil of the Information and Communications Technology Services, DepEd/Designated Ad Hoc Member, Special Bids and Awards Committee for the “Laptop for Teachers” Project Director Jasonmar Uayan, Officer-in-Charge, Executive Director, Procurement Service-DBM Ulysees Mora Procurement Management Officer, PS-DBM and Designated Chairperson, SBAC-1 Marwin Amil, Procurement Management Officer I, PS-DBM and Designated Provisional Member, SBAC-1; Alec Ladanga, Executive Assistant IV, Office of Undersecretary Sevilla, DepEd Marcelo Bragado, Director IV, Procurement Management Service, DepEd Selwyn Briones, Supervising Administrative Officer, DepEd, and Paul Armand Estrada, Procurement Management Officer V, and PS-DBM and Designated Regular Member, SBAC-1.