Ombudsman suspends DepEd, DBM execs over alleged overpriced laptops

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed 12 Department of Education (DepEd)  and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) officials under six-month preventive suspension without pay over the purchase of alleged overpriced laptops for teachers during the Duterte administration.

In an 11-page resolution, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said his office found sufficient grounds to preventively suspend for grave misconduct, serious  dishonesty, and gross neglect of duty the following respondents “considering that there is strong evidence showing their guilt”:

• DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn 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 (SBAC-1) 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, PS-DBM and Designated Regular  Member, SBAC-1

The anti-graft body said such suspension is in accordance with Section 27 of the Ombudsman law.

“This Order is immediately executory,” the Ombudsman said.

“Notwithstanding any motion, appeal, or petition that may be filed by respondents seeking relief from this Order, unless otherwise ordered by this Office or any court of competent jurisdiction, the implementation of this Order should not be interrupted within the period prescribed,” it added.

The Ombudsman’s decision stemmed from the complaint filed by the Senate blue ribbon committee resulting from its inquiry on the controversy.

The anti-graft body cited the Commission on Audit's findings wherein it could not ascertain the DBM's basis for adopting the P58,300 unit price per laptop in its recommended Approved Budget of Contract,  an amount accepted by the DepEd.

In addition, COA also noted that the 68,500 laptops supposed to be procured was significantly reduced to 39,583 due to the huge increase in estimated cost from P35,046.50 based on DepEd's submission of Agency Procurement Request.

DepEd, in a separate statement, said it will comply with the Ombudsman’s decision.

“The DepEd 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. DepEd adheres to due process and shall abide by the said Order,” it said in a statement.

“Meanwhile, the Department reassures the public of its unhampered services as we prepare for a safe and orderly opening of School Year 2023-2024,” it added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News