Ombudsman urged: Probe fund transfers to PS-DBM

SEN. Joel Villanueva yesterday called on the Office of the Ombudsman to also investigate other fund transfers made to the Procurement Service office of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), saying that the latter’s transactions with the Department of Health (DOH) could just be the tip of the iceberg of other irregularities.

Villanueva made the call as he commended the Ombudsman for filing charges before the Sandiganbayan against former health secretary Francisco Duque III and former PS-DBM executive director Lloyd Christopher Lao for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the transfer of P41.464 billion DOH funds to the PS-DBM between March and December 2020.

The fund transfer was intended for the purchase of supplies to be distributed to health workers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senator said there could be more irregularities involving fund transfers to the PS-DBM.

“The personalities recently charged could be just the tip of the iceberg. Thus, the pursuit for accountability and justice should continue,” Villanueva said, noting that Lao has also been linked to the procurement of overpriced laptops for the Department of Education (DepEd).

In suing Duque and Lao, prosecutors said the fund transfer inflicted undue injury to the government in the form of the four percent service fee, amounting to P1.659 billion, charged by the PS-DBM even if the latter did not have the needed supplies and equipment in its inventory.

“We also await firm action on the case of the overpriced and outdated laptops procured by the Department of Education. From audit reports and various investigations including of the Senate, the deal reeks of irregularities that the anti-graft court should not let slip,” Villanueva said.