Manila Bulletin
Go welcomes Senate probe on alleged questionable handling of COVID-19 response funds
Senator "Bong" Go stated that he fully supports the Senate's investigation into the handling of COVID-19 response funds by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
This statement comes amid allegations that Christopher Lao's office at the Procurement Service-DBM (PS-DBM) was involved in the alleged overpricing of face masks and shields.
Go reiterated that Lao was not his aide, clarifying that Lao was a volunteer election lawyer for President Duterte in 2016 and held various government positions before heading PS-DBM.
Lao has reportedly resigned from his position as DBM undersecretary.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon suggested that Go should attend the next committee hearing to clarify issues, citing Go's familiarity with the health sector.
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Senator "Bong" Go urged agencies to thoroughly explain their expenditures related to the government's COVID-19 response to prevent premature judgments.
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The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has summoned former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao to a hearing regarding the Department of Health's (DOH) utilization of COVID-19 funds.
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State auditors identified deficiencies amounting to P67.32 billion in the Department of Health's (DOH) COVID-19 funds for 2020.
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The Makabayan bloc has filed House Resolution 2129 to investigate the Department of Health's (DOH) alleged "grave inefficiency," "gross incompetence," and "criminal negligence" in managing P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds.
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Senator Christopher "Bong" Go denied that former Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service (DBM-PS) head Lloyd Christopher Lao was his aide, stating Lao was a volunteer for President Duterte in 2016.
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