Senators welcome graft raps vs Lao and Pharmally executives
MANILA, Philippines — Two Senators, in separate statements, said the Office of the Ombudsman’s recommendation to file graft charges against former Procurement Services of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) head Lloyd Christoper Lao and others involved in the Pharmally scandal, is a step towards accountability and justice.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, in a statement on Thursday, said she is hoping that this development serves as a reminder that justice, no matter how long it arrives, will come.
“Darating at darating ang hustisya. Isang welcome at much-awaited development ang desisyon ng Office of the Ombudsman na sampahan ng graft charges sila dating PS-DBM Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, at ang iba pang opisyal at pribadong indibidwal na sangkot sa P4.1 billion na Pharmally scandal,” said Hontiveros.
(Justice will always come. The Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to file graft charges against former PS-DBM Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, and other officials and private individuals involved in the P4.1 billion Pharmally scandal is a welcome and much-awaited development.)
Hontiveros likewise highlighted that this is an important step towards “bringing accountability and justice” against those behind the appalling waste and misuse of limited government funds while Filipinos were suffering in the midst of a global pandemic.
These sentiments were shared by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who likewise stated that justice will always prevail.
“The wheels of justice may be slow but continue to grind nevertheless,” said Escudero.
But while he welcomed this development, Escudero also wondered why the Ombudsman did not recommend filing plunder raps against the Lao and others involved in the scandal.
“I have yet to see [or] read the resolution but I wonder why plunder charges were not recommended given the amount involved which clearly exceeds the threshold of P50 million for plunder,” he said.
