After five hearings, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has terminated its investigation into the overpriced but outdated laptops procured by the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Services (DBM-PS) on Thursday, October 20.

Senator Francis Tolentino, head of the Senate panel, said he clearly sees a conspiracy involving high-ranking government officials and private individuals as he vowed to be ready to release a committee report on the case by November.

“It’s too complicated because you can see that initially what was being debated was the dates of the supposed memorandum of agreement (MOA). The MOA was not yet done up until May 2021 although there was already a MOA released on Feb. 16, 2021,” Tolentino told reporters in an interview after the hearing.

“The conspiracy angle was still there...everyone, including those in the private sector,” Tolentino further said.

Nevertheless, he said, the blue ribbon panel hopes to amend some existing laws especially on government procurement.

“We hope to have something that would amend existing laws. We hope to have something that would pin liability or accountabiity on the persons that led to this situation,” Tolentino said at the end of the hearing.

“Though a hard fact, a hard reality to confront, we have to do it. I do not want to hurt another person but we need to do our job,” he further said.

“Without objections from my colleagues online, and those physically present a while ago, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation concerning over priced laptops is hereby terminated and this committee hearing is hereby adjourned,” the senator said.

Tolentino, however, reiterated that the panel is giving the resource persons who were not given a chance to rebutt, explain or expand their sides, “and those who felt alluded to or implicated in a way that would involve wrong doing” to present their side through the submission of a memoranda, or memorandun within 15 days with the assistance of their respective legal counsel.

Nevertheless, he said, the committee report will take into account the fact that the original purpose of the P2.4-billion amount paid for the price of low-quality laptops for public school teachers was for the internet load for senior high school students to ensure their connectivity at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The original purpose is to have (internet) loads) for the connectiity of the students, and you convert it into laptops. Is that allowed?” Tolentino pointed out.

“If it is allowed, was the process provided under RA 9184 complied?” the lawmaker asked referring to the government procurement law.