News Roundup 18 September 2024
Sep 18, 2024 • 4 min Read
Ex-DBM exec tagged in Pharmally mess arrested for graft in Davao City | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — Christopher Lao, the former Budget undersecretary tagged in the Pharmally mess, was arrested in Davao City on Wednesday over alleged graft, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Lao, 47, was nabbed by PNP’s criminal investigation and detection group (CIDG) in Barangay 18B, Obrero through a Sandiganbayan first division’s arrest warrant dated Sept. 12.
Sandiganbayan 1st Division chair Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega issued the warrant against Lao for alleged violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Mendoza-Arcega, however, recommended a P90,000 bail for Lao.
As of this posting, Lao was detained in CIDG’s Regional Forensic Unit 11 in Davao City.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires previously confirmed to the Philippine Daily Inquirer that his office filed the graft case against Lao and former Department of Health (DOH) chief Francisco Duque III in the Sandiganbayan last month.
Full Story at: Ex-DBM exec tagged in Pharmally mess arrested for graft in Davao (inquirer.net)
Hontiveros urges ex-DBM exec Lao to name big boss behind Pharmally mess | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she hopes Lloyd Christopher Lao, the former Budget undersecretary tagged in the Pharmally mess, will finally name the “big boss” behind the corruption of Covid-19 pandemic response funds following his arrest in Davao City on Wednesday.
In a statement, Hontiveros said it is finally time for Lao to face his alleged crimes.
“Ngayong nasa kamay na siya ng batas, aminin na rin sana niya kung sino nga ba ang big boss na may pakana at nakinabang sa korapsyon sa bilyon-bilyong Covid-19 [pandemic response] funds,” she said.
(Now that he is already in the hands of the law, he should name the big boss and mastermind behind the corruption of billions-worth of Covid-19 pandemic response funds.)
Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a startup company with a paid-up capital of only P625,000, bagged more than P11.5 billion worth of government healthcare supply contracts at the height of the pandemic.
“Kailangang managot si Atty. Lao at ang mga kasabwat niya sa pang-aabuso at pagkamkam sa kaban ng bayan habang maraming Pilipino ang may sakit, nagugutom, at walang hanapbuhay noong kasagsagan ng Covid-19 pandemic,” Hontiveros said.
(Atty. Lao and his cohorts must be held accountable for abusing and pocketing public funds at a time when many Filipinos were sick, hungry, and jobless amid the Covid-19 pandemic.)
Full Story at: Hontiveros urges Lao to name ‘big boss’ behind Pharmally mess (inquirer.net)
PNP going after Apollo Quiboloy’s coddlers | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is building a case against all those who reportedly sheltered fugitive Apollo Quiboloy during authorities’ weeks-long manhunt for him.
In preparation for the filing of charges, the PNP’s investigative unit has started reviewing all statements aired on social media or during media interviews that alluded to Quiboloy’s whereabouts, PNP Spokesperson PCol. Jean Fardo said in a press briefing on Wednesday, September 18.
If warranted, those who made statements alleging they knew where Quiboloy was hiding could be charged with violating Presidential Decree 1829 (obstruction of justice), which penalizes offenders with six years of imprisonment and fines them up to P6,000, she said.
“There were pronouncements before [and] statements and interviews made before will be taken into consideration for purposes of identifying and ascertaining who will face charges,” Fajardo said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Fajardo said it is “too early” to say who will face charges and how many.
“But one thing is certain, there were people claiming that Quiboloy was no longer there [in the compound.] This early, on the side of KOJC members, we see they may face charges,” she added.
On September 1, Vice President Sara Duterte told Davao media that she believes Quiboloy had already left Davao City even as the PNP was conducting its operations at the KOJC compound.
The vice president said Quiboloy had plenty of time to exit the city “because of the long grandstanding at the Senate committee hearing,” referring to the Senate inquiry led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros against the controversial preacher. His failure to face the Senate women and children panel led to a warrant of arrest being issued against him.
Full Story at: PNP going after Apollo Quiboloy’s coddlers | Philstar.com
Philippines eyes taking sea dispute with China to UN General Assembly | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is currently studying the possibility of taking its long-running maritime dispute with China to the United Nations General Assembly.
During Wednesday’s (September 18) budget plenary debates at the House of Representatives, the lawmaker sponsoring the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has not ruled out the filing of a UN General Assembly resolution on the country’s territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.
“The DFA really plans to file a resolution with the UN General Assembly on the Philippines’ territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea,” Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago (Nueva Ecija, 2nd District) said during the budget hearing for the DFA.
The DFA’s decision will be based on “necessity and prudence,” the lawmaker said.
Philstar.com has reached out to the DFA for comment and will update this story with their response.
Full Story at: Philippines eyes taking sea dispute with China to UN General Assembly | Philstar.com
