ILLEGAL ONLINE SALE OF DEPED PROPERTY FOILED

“THE theft and improper use of DepEd property, including departmentissued laptops, computers and other devices will not be tolerated.” This was the stern warning of Education Secretary Leonor Briones to the public over a successful entrapment conducted earlier this month by a Joint Special Operations Group from the Department of Education ( DepEd) and the Philippine National Police ( PNP). The operations group, composed of the DepEd, the District Special Operations Unit ( DSOU) of the Quezon City Police District ( QCPD) and Police Station 5- Fairview, conducted the entrapment against a suspected seller of a DepEd- owned laptop. The laptop, which forms part of the DepEd Computerization Program ( DCP) package, was seen at a marketplace section of a popular social media site. Upon discovery

of the “for sale” post of the blue DepEd- issued laptop, its Information and Communications Technology Service ( ICTS), along with the DepEd- Central Security and Safety Office ( CSSO), immediately coordinated with the QCPD to devise a plan to entrap the seller. The item was found displayed in a stall in a mall in Novaliches, where a DepEd employee posing as a buyer confirmed that it was DepEd property upon seeing the visible DepEd logo and the same logo appearing upon start- up. The laptop also bore the distinguishing blue color intended for all items under the DCP package. Upon confirmation, operatives proceeded to arrest the sellers for violation of Presidential Decree 1612, or the Anti- Fencing Law. “Our urgent report, met by the swift action of the QCPD- DSOU, has led to the arrest of the offenders, and for this we are very grateful,” Briones said. ICTS Director Abram Abanil issued a reminder to DepEd personnel and the public regarding units under the DCP: “As we have mentioned earlier this year, DepEd has ensured that all DCP units are colored blue to ensure easy identification and also serve as a simple security feature.”