FORMER Procurement Service-Department of Budget Management (DBM) executive director Lloyd Christopher Lao posted bail in the amount of P90,000 at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18.
The charges under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for his alleged involvement in awarding P4 billion in contracts for COVID-19 test kits to Pharmally Pharma.
Lao was arrested on Thursday in Ecoland, Davao City.
According to a report obtained by TIMES from a CIDG operative, Lao was arrested by the CIDG XI and Special Operating Team in conjunction with CIDG NCRFU and the Davao City Field Unit.
He is accused of violating Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) with a recommended bail of P90,000, as issued by Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, chairperson of the First Division, Sandiganbayan, Quezon City, on Sept. 12, 2024.
According to a report, investigators found former Lao and 12 others liable for graft in the biggest corruption scandal during the pandemic and recommended their criminal prosecution for conspiring to award P4 billion in contracts for COVID-19 test kits to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. which they treated as a “favored” supplier.
The arrested individual was fully informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
TIMES has not yet been able to obtain a statement from the arrested individual or his representatives.
