DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said the agency will respond to the CoA’s audit observation memorandum (AOM) after reviewing the transaction documents they requested from the Procurement Services of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

Based on the AOM, the laptops were “outdated and overpriced.”

“If proven that the laptops delivered do not perform as they should be as purchased, we will then consider available legal remedies — which is to invoke the warranty provision,” Poa said in a press briefing.

Poa said the previous DepEd administration received the AOM in March 2022 and provided an initial documentation of the purchase in May 2022.

He added that the DepEd will evaluate the performance of the laptops distributed to public school teachers. In the event that the warranty is needed to be invoked for repair or replacement.

Poa said the DepEd will coordinate with the PS-DBM since it was the procuring entity in the deal.