Ombudsman orders filing of graft, falsification charges vs. Briones, Lao, others

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft and falsification charges against former Education Secretary Leonor Briones, former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, and other officials over the purchase of overpriced laptops in 2021.

In a 106-page resolution dated July 4 and released Friday, July 11, the Ombudsman said it found “probable cause” to file graft charges against Briones and Lao, and the following former officials:

+ Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla

+ Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua

+ Education Assistant Secretary Salvador Malana III

+ DepEd director Abram Abanil

+ DepEd director Marcelo Bragado

+ DepEd executive assistant Alec Serquina Ladanga

+ DepEd supervising administrative officer Selwyn Carillo Briones

+ PS-DBM director Jasonmer Lagarto Uayan

+ PS-DBM procurement management officer Ulysses Mora

+ PS-DBM procurement management officer Marwan Amil

+ PS-DBM procurement management officer Paul Estrada

The Ombudsman said graft charges must also be filed against private respondent Froilan Domingo, who was the authorized representative of the joint venture that supplied the laptops.

It said it found probable cause for the prosecution of the respondents “considering the complexity of the scheme and the individuals participation of respondents as contributory to the carrying out and perpetuation of a common design to give unwarranted benefit to the joint venture and to cause undue injury to the government.”

Falsification charges were ordered to be filed against Briones, Lao, Sevilla, Bragado, Malana, Uayan, and Ladanga. According to the Ombudsman, “they altered the true date of the execution of the 2021 MOA (memorandum of agreement) and made untruthful statements therein.”

Meanwhile, perjury charges were ordered to be filed against Lao, Uayan, and Sevilla after the Ombudsman considered their assertions regarding the MOA in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings “to be deliberate and corrupt.”

The Ombudsman conducted a case build-up based on the Senate Blue Ribbon committee report on the controversy in 2023, which was referred by then Sen. Francis Tolentino, committee chairperson.

In 2022, the Commission on Audit flagged the Department of Education for buying P2.4 billion worth of what it called “pricey” and “outdated” laptops for teachers, as the agency implemented distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The more than 39,000 laptops worth over P58,000 per unit were bought through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

The COA noted that the initial proposal was 68,500 units for over P35,000 apiece.

“Not only did the government suffer injury by paying more on the procured laptops, the laptops delivered to the recipient teachers were found to be unsatisfactory, inferior, and could not be used for the intended purpose, i.e. to aid teachers in delivering online classes during the pandemic,” the Ombudsman said in its ruling.

“Consulting my lawyers… will follow legal procedures,” Briones said in a text message.

NewsWatch Plus has reached out to Lao for comment.

In a statement on Saturday, July 12, the DepEd said it will cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman in providing assistance, documents, and information in relation to the charges against the former education officials.

The agency also said these officials "no longer hold any position in or maintain any connection with the department."

“DepEd reiterates its full commitment to cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman in the expeditious and fair resolution of this case,” Dennis Legaspi, media relations chief, said.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report.