DepEd custom-built laptop being sold in a surplus store for 10K

A laptop custom-built for the Department of Education was sold at a local surplus store in Mandaue City for P10,000.

HMR Cebu, a local surplus store, posted on its Facebook page the sale of the Coby 14” laptop for P9,999 as one of its new-arrival products.

One of the buyers showed SunStar Cebu noticeable markings that had been partially scraped.

The scraping out of markings that were etched on the backside of the screen display and below the front screen display of the laptop, and on the mouse were very visible.

Upon closer inspection of the laptop, SunStar also discovered that some of the preloaded files were DepEd’s training videos on how to operate the laptop and apps such as Minecraft Education, Arduino, Geometry, Graphing Calc, and GeoGebra Classic.

The specifications of the Coby 14” laptop and special requirements set by DepEd for each unit, like the placement of the DepEd logo embossed/etched at the backside of the screen display (cover), on the front screen display edge or keyboard area and on the mouse, were the same specifications as with the Coby laptop sold at HMR Cebu–except that the DepEd logo markings had been scraped off.

SunStar Cebu reached out to the management of HMR Cebu, but not available.