Blue ribbon panel invites dead resource person in laptop deal probe, senators learn
(FILE) Sen. Francis “Tol” N. Tolentino, during a hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee September 8, 2022 on the allegedly overpriced and outdated laptops. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines—- The Senate blue ribbon committee invited a dead resource person to its investigation into the purchase of alleged overpriced but outdated laptops for use by public school teachers.
This was only revealed as the panel, being chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino, resumed its probe on Thursday.
According to Tolentino, he was informed Wednesday night that a certain “Atty. Crisologo” could not be present in the hearing as the latter “is already dead.”
During last week’s hearing, the name of a certain Atty. Jose Crisologo was mentioned supposedly as the one who notarized a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) in connection with the controversial P2.4 billion laptop deal.
“As of late May 5, 2021, PS-DBM personnel are still unaware of the existence of a signed memorandum of agreement between PS-DBM and DepEd which was notarized on February 16 2021,” Tolentino said.
“That’s the reason why we requested the presence of the person, a certain Atty. Crisologo from Quezon City who notarized the memorandum of agreement.”
“But I was informed last night that Atty. Crisologo can’t be present here today because Atty. Crisologo is already dead. So we’re trying to secure a certified copy of his death certificate and the actual cause of his death,” the senator added.
Tolentino said the committee will immediately remove Crisologo from the list of persons required to attend their probe once they receive a copy of the death certificate.
Later in the hearing, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada confirmed Crisologo’s death, citing information from the latter’s elder brother, former congressman Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo.
According to Estrada, the former congressman confirmed that his younger brother died of kidney complications last year.
Estrada said the former congressman can provide the committee with a copy of his brother’s death certificate.
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