Blue Ribbon invites dead attorney, wrong expert to DepEd laptops hearing

The Senate blue ribbon committee holds its third hearing into the pricey laptops purchased by the Department of Education through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget Management on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.

The STAR / Geremy Pintolo

MANILA, Philippines — Guest list blunders — including a deceased resource person and another with no expertise in the subject matter — hampered the third hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the education department's deal for overpriced laptops Thursday. 

First, the Senate panel found that one Atty. Jose Crisologo, the lawyer who reportedly notarized the memorandum of agreement allowing for the issuance of an invitation to bid for the laptops, had already passed away.

“I was informed last night that Atty. Crisologo can’t be present here today because Atty. Crisologo is already dead. So we’re trying to secure a certified copy of his death certificate and the actual cause of his death,” Sen. Francis Tolentino, who chairs the committee, said.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/09/15/2209885/blue-ribbon-invites-dead-attorney-wrong-expert-deped-laptops-hearing