Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Saturday that he would file a contempt motion against former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao if he still did not attend the next Senate hearing on the government’s purchase of allegedly overpriced pandemic-related supplies.
Lacson underscored that the former budget undersecretary was not covered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s memorandum which prohibited Cabinet members from attending the Senate investigation.
“Ayun ang nasa isip ko kasi parliamentary inquiry bakit wala si Christopher Lao eh hindi naman siya saklaw nung memorandum order at pangalawang pandinig na hindi siya sumisipot eh dapat talaga ma-contempt na siya para mapilitan siyang sumipot at magtestify,” the senator said in a radio interview.
(That is what I have in mind because it’s a parliamentary inquiry, why would Christopher Lao not be there? He wasn’t covered by the memorandum order and during the second hearing he didn’t show up. He should be cited for contempt to force him to show up and testify.)
Asked if he would want Lao cited for contempt if he still skipped the next hearing on Thursday, Lacson said “Tama ‘yun, ganun ang gagawin ko.”
(That’s right, that’s what I’m going to do)
Lacson earlier recommended graft charges against Lao for allowing Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation to bag huge contracts despite its lack of financial capacity.
The senator said the Blue Ribbon committee should include in its report that Lao violated anti-graft laws when he authorized the awarding of a P13.86-million contract to Pharmally even though it only had P599,450 in net working capital in 2019.
Lacson sought the side of the PS-DBM but there were no officials present during the investigation due to Duterte’s ban.
Duterte required Cabinet members to get a clearance from him first before they can attend the Senate probe into the government procurement of COVID-19 supplies.
The Blue Ribbon committee is 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 Pharmaceutical Corporation, a firm that is being linked to Chinese businessman Michael Yang.
The company only had a P625,000 paid-up capital when it entered transactions with the government. — DVM, GMA News
Lacson to file contempt motion vs Lao if no show in next Senate hearing
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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