Senate blue ribbon panel stops probe into DepEd’s ‘pricey, outdated’ laptop buy

FILE PHOTO: A public school teacher from Quezon City describes as “slow and unusable” the laptop that the Department of Education distributed to teachers to help them in their online classes. The Commission on Audit earlier found the laptops to be “pricey and outdated.” —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate blue ribbon committee terminated on Thursday its investigation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) purchase of allegedly overpriced yet outdated laptops.

Panel head Senator Francis Tolentino concluded the inquiry on its fifth round of discussions.

“We hope to have something that would amend existing laws. We hope to have something that would pin liability or accountability [on] persons that led to this situation. Though a hard fact, a hard reality to confront, we have to do it,” he said.

“Without objection on the part of my colleagues online and those physically present a while ago, the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation concerning the overpriced laptops is hereby terminated, and this committee hearing is adjourned,” he declared.

The senator expressed his appreciation to individuals and groups who participated in the hearings.

He likewise issued an order allowing resource persons’ lawyers to file a memorandum containing statements that were not raised during the panel hearing.

READ: Tolentino to issue order allowing lawyers to join Senate blue ribbon panel hearings

The Senate inquiry stemmed from a Commission on Audit report flagging the DepEd’s procurement of “pricey” yet obsolete laptops through the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service.

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