SENATOR Francis Tolentino said that the Blue Ribbon panel will release its report on the Department of Education’s P2.4-billion laptop procurement deal before Congress takes its Christmas break.

The senator said the committee has finished 95 percent of the report.

“Siguro po, before the Christmas break, we’ll have the committee report, and as we have done before, we will release the dispositive portion in advance,” Tolentino, who heads the committee, said.

He added that the panel will recommend to the Office of the Ombudsman to further investigate the deal and file charges against those found accountable for wrongdoing.

The Senate is set to adjourn on December 17 and will resume sessions on January 22, 2023.

Tolentino admitted that the committee is hesitant to release the report before the Christmas season but since the issue was investigated in 2022, they will not delay the release of the panel’s recommendation.

“Nag-aalangan nga ako kung ilalabas ngayong kapaskuhan o hindi e pero kung ilalabas mo naman sa January baka sabihin naman bagong taon na bagong taon nilabas,” he said.

“So dahil issue ito ng 2022, ilabas na natin ngayong 2022 at kagaya nung pangako namin noon, mabiilis,” he added.

The panel investigated the purchase of outdated yet overpriced laptops for teachers through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management last August based on the Commission on Audit’s report that flagged the procurement of expensive laptops.