THE SENATE Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino recommended the filing of charges against former and current officials of the Department of Education and the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management over the procurement of overpriced laptops for public school teachers in 2021.

Tolentino presented the 197-page committee report stating that the acquisition of the 39,000 laptops in 2021 was overpriced by at least P979 million.

The panel recommended the filing of charges against former DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua, Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla, former Assistant Secretary Salvador Malana III, Director Abram Abanil, former OIC Executive Director Lloyd Christopher Lao, former OIC Executive Director Jasonmer Uayan, Special Bids and Awards Committee Chairman Ulysses Mora, and Engr. Marwan Amil for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019.

The committee also found basis for the filing of administrative charges for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against said officials.

The procurement process for the laptops, intended to support remote learning of students during the pandemic, was conducted by the PS-DBM supposedly upon the request and authority of the DepEd.

The committee, however, found that the Memorandum of Agreement executed by the DepEd authorizing and delegating the procurement task to PS DBM was antedated which rendered the procurement process questionable and highly irregular.

The panel also called for the amendment of Republic Act 9184 or the procurement law, and its implementing rules and regulations, to improve transparency and accountability safeguards to prevent anomalies.