Ex-DBM exec Lao asks to be excused from Senate probe on DepEd laptops

Lloyd Christopher A. Lao–PHOTO FROM DBM WEBSITE

MANILA, Philippines — Lloyd Christopher Lao, the former head of the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service (PS-DBM) who was linked to the Pharmally scandal, on Thursday asked the Senate blue ribbon committee to excuse him from its probe on the controversial procurement of allegedly “outdated and pricey” laptops by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Lao made the manifestation during the Senate blue ribbon’s probe on the procurement of the laptops, which he attended remotely.

“I would just like to manifest I am no longer the PS-DBM Executive Director regarding the DepEd laptops so I am requesting if I may be excused from the hearing because I’m no longer Executive Director,” he said.

However, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Francis Tolentino said there are documents pertaining to the DepEd laptop procurement that were “allegedly signed” while Lao was still the head of the PS-DBM.

With this, the blue ribbon committee proceeded with its hearing.

Tolentino revealed during the probe that Lao has asked the committee for a clearance or certificate for him to be able to travel abroad.

In his letter addressed to Tolentino, Lao asked the senator to issue a clearance of a certification that he has “no pending case, contempt charges, and/or warrant of arrest before the blue ribbon committee.”

This, he said, is “just and equitable” considering that the 18th Congress has since been concluded and the Pharmally investigation has been terminated.

“In view of the culmination of the 18th Congress, and the consequent termination of the said Senate investigation, the issuance of the requested clearance/certificate is just and equitable under the circumstances,” Lao’s letter read.

Such clearance or certification will be used by the undersigned in requesting for the lifting of the ILBO issued by the Department of Justice as a result of the subject Senate investigation,” it further read.

In September last year, the Department of Justice has released an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against Lao, and seven other personalities on the request of then Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Then in November the same year, the Senate ordered the arrest of Lao after citing him for contempt for skipping the hearings of the blue ribbon committee on the Pharmally issue.

/MUF