Housing chief says Lao no longer with HLURB when accused of extortion
MANILA, Philippines — Former head of the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) Christopher Lloyd Lao was no longer a Housing official when a complaint was filed against him for alleged extortion, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario said Thursday.
Lao was chief executive officer and commissioner of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) before he became DBM undersecretary.
A complaint was filed with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) against Lao in 2019, on account of allegations of extortion from socialized housing developers.
“Ako po’y nakareceive ng anonymous letter, it’s just an anonymous letter na galing sa PACC with numerous allegations against then CEO Lao ng Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board,” Del Rosario said in a televised briefing.
(I received an anonymous letter, it’s an anonymous letter from the PACC with numerous allegations against then CEO Lao of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.)
“But nung mareceive ko yun, I think that was on the first week of September 2019. Matagal nang wala sa HLURB si Atty. Lao at natransfer na sya I think by June or July of 2019. Andoon na sya sa DBM,” he added.
(But when I received the letter I think in the first week of September 2019, Atty. Lao was no longer with the HLURB. He was transferred by June or July of 2019. He was already with the DBM.)
Del Rosario said he forwarded the letter to Lao so he could engage with the PACC regarding the matter.
“So I think it would be better na ibigay ko yung complaint letter sa kanya at ito ay ipinadala ko sa kanyang staff. I did not follow up anymore because he was not under my department anymore at the time,” Del Rosario said.
(So I thought it would be better to give the complaint letter to him so I sent it to his staff. I did not follow up anymore because he was no longer under my department at the time.)
Lao has been in the Senate hot seat after his former office facilitated the purchase of allegedly overpriced medical-related supplies for the government’s COVID-19 response. He resigned from the DBM in June 2021.
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