Former budget exec听summoned听to听Senate probe听on health funds听
THE SENATE Blue Ribbon Committee has summoned a former Budget official to Wednesday鈥檚 hearing on the Health department鈥檚 alleged mishandling of the anti-coronavirus funds.听
Senator Richard J. Gordon,听chair of the committee,听issued a subpoena to听Lloyd Cristopher Lao,听former Department of Budget and Management听(DBM) undersecretary, who was in charge of funds used to purchase allegedly overpriced face masks and face shields last year.听听听
Mr. Lao, who resigned听in June听as head of the Procurement Service under DBM, said in a听Malaca帽ang听briefing last week that the bulk purchase of听masks and shields,听respectively听costing听P27.72 and P120听per piece,听were the听鈥渃heapest鈥澨齛t听that time.听听听
He said he will be appearing before the Senate committee.听鈥淚 believe in the objectivity of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that is fair and just. It is a proper and appropriate avenue for me to shed light on what actually transpired.鈥澨听
Mr. Gordon听said in a statement,听鈥淗e will be asked to explain the circumstances of such procurement. It is important that he appears because there are so many questions that need answers.鈥澨
The senator also noted听that DBM Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie L. Canada said that听Mr. Lao听was previously investigated听鈥渙ver procurement of overpriced medical supplies and equipment.鈥澨鈥斕鼳lyssa Nicole O. Tan听
