The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of graft and falsification charges against former Education Secretary Leonor Briones and several former DepEd and PS-DBM officials over the purchase of P2.4 billion worth of allegedly overpriced and outdated laptops in 2021.
The charges include violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and falsification by public officers, with some officials also facing perjury accusations.
The laptop procurement was flagged by the Commission on Audit for its high cost and poor quality amid the pandemic’s distance-learning setup.
Briones said she is consulting her lawyers and will follow legal procedures.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers welcomed the charges, calling the issue a betrayal of public trust and highlighting the hardships faced by teachers during the remote learning period.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 12, 2025
