MANILA — Several officials of Department of Education (DepEd) and Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) have been suspended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The order is due to their alleged involvement in the purchase of reportedly overpriced laptops.
In an order signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires last August 23 and released to the media on Friday, the following were ordered suspended for six months without pay:
* DepEd Finance Division head Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla
* Former DepEd Administration and Procurement head Undersecretary Alain del Pascua
* Former PS-DBM head and DBM Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao
* DepEd Assistant Secretary Salvador Malana III
* DepEd Director Abram Abanil
* Former PS-DBM officer-in-charge Jasonmer Uayan
* PS-DBM Procurement Management Officer IV Ulysses Mora
* PS-DBM Procurement Management Officer I Marwan Amil
* DepEd Executive Assistant IV Alec Ladanga
* DepEd Director IV Marcelo Bragado
* DepEd Supervising Administrative Officer Selwyn Briones
* PS-DBM Procurement Management Officer V Paul Armand Estrada
All of the officials were subject of complaints filed by Senate blue ribbon committee chairperson Senator Francis Tolentino.
This came after a series of congressional hearings found the these individuals were reportedly involved in the purchase of overpriced laptops.
The issue started with Commission on Audit (COA) audit report stating that DepEd had purchased expensive laptops that contained low-end processors in 2021 — which were transacted through PS-DBM.
COA noted P2.4 billion was approved for purchasing laptops for online teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the commission stated “the economy and efficiency in the procurement of laptop computers” were not guaranteed after DepEd settled with PS-DBM’s price and specification recommendations, which rose from P35,046.50 on its Agency Procurement Request (APR) to P58,300 on its Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC).”
The laptops also have Intel Celeron processors, which are usually found in entry-level personal computers.
According to the Ombudsman’s order, there are sufficient grounds to suspend the officials, as “there is strong evidence showing their guilt.”
Ombudsman also noted the charges against the officials — grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and gross neglect of duty — may lead to their removal from office.
Just this Thursday, Ombudsman also ordered the filing of graft raps against Lao and other PS-DBM officials for their involvement in a different case — that of alleged overpriced personal protective equipment (PPEs) purchased from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to COA’s report, Department of Health (DOH) transferred P67.32 billion of its COVID-19 funds to the PS-DBM.
However, COA noted P42 billion of these COVID-19 funds contained deficiencies — including the P8.7 billion contracts given to Pharmally.
Senators then questioned why Pharmally was tapped to supply the health equipment when it only has a small paid-up capital of P625,000. (Gabriel Pabico Lalu © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
