Senate officially orders arrest of ex-PS-DBM exec Lao

The Senate has officially ordered the arrest of former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao, the officer-in-charge of the Procurement Service of the DBM (PS-DBM) when the government procured billions worth of COVID-19 supplies in 2020.

This was confirmed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III to reporters on Friday afternoon.

LOOK: Copy of Senate's arrest order against former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao. Photo from the Office of Sen. Gordon. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/SA2kV27EKZ

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) November 5, 2021

During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Thursday, the lawmakers cited Lao in contempt after the latter skipped several hearings by the panel into the government’s procurement of alleged overpriced medical supplies.

Gordon said Lao is no longer a government official. Thus, he is not covered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s order barring Cabinet officials and employees from attending the hearings.

GMA News Online sought Lao’s comment through text message, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Lao has skipped four consecutive Senate hearings already since October 5.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired Major General Rene Samonte told GMA News Online that his officers will serve the arrest order against Lao even if he is not in Metro Manila.

“If we receive it [arrest order], we will just prepare the admin requirements, at kahit [and even if it is] out of town eh we will serve and implement the arrest order,” Samonte said in a text message.

During the Senate panel's previous hearings, Lao said he went back to Davao City after he left his post in DBM.

Earlier, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Lao should face graft charges for allowing Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation to bag huge contracts despite its lack of financial capacity.

The Senate blue ribbon committee’s preliminary report also indicated possible charges against Lao and several individuals involved in the transactions for the COVID-19 supplies procurement.

The senators are looking into the transfer of P42 billion COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to the PS-DBM.

This includes PS-DBM’s purchase of P8.6 billion worth of face masks, face shields, and PPEs from Pharmally, which only had a P625,000 paid-up capital when it entered transactions with the government.—AOL, GMA News