DBM to comply with Ombudsman’s graft raps recommendation vs PS-DBM, Pharmally execs
DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman (INQUIRER.net / Ryan Leagogo)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday vowed to comply with the Ombudsman’s recommendation to file graft complaints against the agency’s former Procurement Service (PS) officials.
The Ombudsman had earlier recommend the filing of graft charges against former officials of PS-DBM and Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. due to allegedly anomalous contacts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Department of Budget and Management, under the leadership of Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, assures the public of its full compliance with the recent decision of the Office of the Ombudsman against former DBM and Procurement Service (PS) officials, as well as Pharmally officials in connection with the government’s purchase of P4 billion worth of RT-PCR test kits from Pharmally,” the DBM said in a statement.
According to the DBM, PS-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago has been ordered to enforce the decision.
“Secretary Pangandaman has directed PS-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago to enforce the decision concerning former PS-DBM Director Warren Liong and Procurement Management Officer Paul Jasper de Guzman, as well as Webster Laurenana, August Ylagan, Jasonmer Uayan, and Christine Marie Suntay,” said the DBM.
The DBM said that it will comply with the penalty that the Ombudsman had imposed for the mentioned officials, which includes dismissal from service, forfeiture of all retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service.
“However, due to their separation from service, the dismissal penalty will be converted into a fine equivalent to one year’s salary of the respondents,” said the DBM.
