DepEd wants COA ‘fraud audit’ to probe PHP 2.4B laptop deal!

VP and Education Secretary Sara Duterte ordered DepEd to request the COA for a fraud audit.

File photo: Image edit of DepEd laptop

To find out if there's any fraud or irregularity?

To recall, COA reported that DepEd bought PHP 2.4 billion worth of laptops through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management. These laptops are deemed "pricey and outdated" since there are cheaper and better options in the market. 

Aside from that, they are more expensive than what the budget was allotted for resulting in fewer units leaving over 28,000 teachers without a computer. 

The issue drew flak from the netizens so the Department of Education released a statement a few days ago. DepEd stated that teachers who have received the said laptops may get a "proper" replacement device if the laptops that were purchased were really slow.

However, the quick fix seems insufficient so VP Sara Duterte ordered the department to undergo investigation by Commission on Audit. The DepEd submitted a letter addressed to the COA, asking for a fraud audit to find out if there were any irregularities in the procurement of the laptops.

 DepEd Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said that if proven that there was any fraud or irregularity in the procurement, cases may be filed against those involved. He further added,

In the meantime, while we are not yet declaring that there is a fraudulent transaction that happened at that time, we're also not saying that there is none… Kaya nga po ang direktiba po sa'min ni Secretary, ni VP Sara, paimbestigahan niyo na 'yan, para makita kung mayroon bang kalokohan o wala (That's why the directive to us by VP Secretary Sara, let it be investigated, to see whether or not there's an irregularity).

Densing said all the documents "immediately given" by the PS-DBM upon the DepEd’s request have already been submitted to the COA. Last Friday, the PS-DBM, turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) documents related to the procurement of the DepEd's laptops.

The DepEd Undersecretary claimed that the government agency prefers to conduct future purchases under its own team to avoid similar controversies.

Any thoughts on this issue?

Source: PNA