Former PS-DBM chief Usec. Christopher Lloyd Lao. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday cited in contempt Lloyd Christopher Lao, former executive director of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), for skipping the panel’s hearings on the alleged irregularities in the national government’s COVID-19 spending.
The motion to cite Lao in contempt was raised by Senator Francis Pangilinan and seconded by Senator Risa Hontiveros. It was adopted by Senator Richard Gordon, who chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee.
“He has been missing together with Mr. and Ms. [Twinkle and Mohit] Dargani,” Pangilinan said.
Earlier in the hearing, Gordon said he will entertain a motion to cite Lao in contempt for skipping hearings despite not being covered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s order barring Cabinet members to attend the hearing.