What Happened?
On July 11, 2025, the Philippine Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that it filed graft and falsification charges against former Education Secretary Leonor “Leni” Briones. The issue is a ₱2.4 billion laptop purchase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Briones and over a dozen others face accusations of serious wrongdoing.
Why It Matters
- Teachers lost out: Because of the high price, fewer laptops were bought. This meant not every teacher got one during the pandemic.
- Government lost money: The state paid more than needed, hurting public funds and trust.
- Legal lines crossed: Falsifying documents and lying under oath are criminal acts. This case questions official honesty and fair use of public money.
Key Details in the Case
- Overpriced laptops
The Department of Education (DepEd) bought laptops at ₱58,300 each—far higher than the ₱35,046 budgeted amount. Similar laptops cost only ₱22,000 to ₱25,000 in the market. - Backdated agreement
A key contract was backdated from May 28, 2021 to February 16, 2021. The Ombudsman says this was done to justify transferring money early. - Misplaced responsibility
Even though DepEd was capable of handling the deal, the responsibility was handed to the Procurement Service-DBM. The Ombudsman says this move favored private suppliers unfairly. - False testimonies
Three officials allegedly lied under oath during the Senate’s probe. They now face perjury charges.
People Involved and the Charges
| Name | Position | Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Leonor M. Briones | Former DepEd Secretary | Graft, Falsification |
| Lloyd C. Lao | PS-DBM Exec. Director | Graft, Falsification, Perjury |
| Annalyn M. Sevilla | DepEd Undersecretary for Finance | Graft, Falsification, Perjury |
| Jasonmer L. Uayan | PS-DBM Director IV | Graft, Falsification, Perjury |
| (Plus 10 more officials from DepEd and PS-DBM) | Various | Graft and/or falsification |
| Froilan V. Domingo | Joint venture partner | Graft |
How the Ombudsman Made Its Decision
- Found probable cause in a 106-page resolution dated July 4, 2025.
- Agreed with the Senate’s findings that the deal hurt the government by ₱979 million.
- Noted the clearly inflated prices and laptops not fit for remote learning.
- Proved documents were knowingly altered and backdated.
- Uncovered Viber messages from officials showing plan to falsify dates.
- Confirmed that procurement started before legal agreement existed.
Briones’ Role
- Approved the laptop deal and pricing.
- Requested the transfer of procurement duty to PS-DBM.
- Signed and approved the backdated agreement.
- Authorized payments before legal approval was valid.
Why People Are Angry
Teachers’ groups, especially the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, say this scandal worsened the education crisis. They argue ₱2.4 billion could have helped many pupils and staff more. They demand full justice for those involved.
What’s Next?
- The accused will have to respond in court to graft, falsification, and perjury charges.
- The trial will investigate the laptop deal and who lied under oath.
- If found guilty, the officials face serious penalties and jail time.
- Teachers and citizens will watch closely for accountability.
FAQs
What is “graft”?
Graft is using your official position to gain unfair advantages or money. In this case, it means causing losses for the government.
What is “falsification”?
Altering documents or lying about them. Here, it refers to backdating the agreement to cover up the early payment.
Why is the laptop deal considered bad?
The laptops cost much more than needed, fewer teachers got devices, and the items were not what teachers required for online education.
What happens now?
A legal process begins. The Ombudsman will support prosecution. The accused can defend themselves in anti-graft courts.
