Hontiveros welcomes Lao's arrest, urges accountability

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros welcomed the arrest of former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao in Davao City on Wednesday.

Hontiveros urged Lao to reveal the identity of those behind the misuse of funds, stressing that it is crucial for accountability during a public health emergency.

The senator emphasized that Atty. Lao and his accomplices must be held responsible for their abuse of power and plunder of public funds when many Filipinos were suffering from illness, hunger, and unemployment.

Former Senator Richard 'Dick' Gordon welcomed the arrest but expressed reservations about the bail amount set at P90,000, calling it small compared to the billions involved in the Pharmally controversy.

Gordon also reiterated his stance that former President Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for the Pharmally scandal due to his alleged intimidation of government agencies and protection of perpetrators.