Charles Teves
The former head of the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service (PS-DBM), Lloyd Christopher Lao, has been implicated in the DepEd laptop scandal.
Last week, Senator Risa Hontiveros requested to have Lao summoned after the Commission on Audit indicated that through the PS-DBM, the Department of Education bought overpriced entry-level laptops.
The senator, a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said that her office attempts to come up with a resolution.
“Parang lagi nalang may cast of characters — nagpa-part two, nagpa-part three ng kanilang dating gawi. Naisasama talaga maya’t maya ang pangalan ni dating PS-DBM Usec. Lao,” Hontiveros said in an interview on Radyo Singko.
“So tingin ko, hindi lang nakasentro dito sa overpriced laptops sa ating education system pero yung nagiging repeat performances ng PS-DBM, lalo na sa ilalim ni dating Usec. Lao sa ganitong mga kwestiyonableng transaksyon… Kapag didinigin na ang resolusyon, kailangan naming tawagin muli si dating Usec. Lao,” she added.
The public knew of Lao when his name was involved in the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation on the government’s deal with Pharmally at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hearings found that the Department of Health bought “overpriced” pandemic response supplies from Pharmally under the direction of the PS-DBM.
Netizens were surprised to see Lao’s name involved in the laptop fiasco and wondered why he hasn’t been put in prison yet.
Ikaw nanaman! At bakit wala sa administrasyong Marcos o mangbabatas na gusto mag imbestiga dito? Naglalabasan na baho ng Duterte pero takip mata lang gobyerno. Hay… pic.twitter.com/AzozrrrTjs
— Your Daily Dose (@SaltAndReality) August 14, 2022
What did I say a few days ago? It’s not the existence of PS per se that is the problem but the incompetence and corruption of Lao et at that marred rhe institution
https://t.co/NKdWBzOeZR— Budget Babe (@znsuzara) August 12, 2022
Thanks atty Tom!
Do you want to understand how PS-DBM works?
Read: Naku naman deped paki explain with your ps-dbm counterpart or should I say the ilong este lao group! 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/gxlTDPcbBn
— erik (@iknowyoubangki) August 17, 2022
Is he still being protected by BG?
First, Pharmally. Now, DepEd laptops. All during Duterte administration. Bakit tahimik ang dilawang DDS? Double standards? https://t.co/fsnoo1xpkp— Paxton Dy (@PaxtonDy) August 12, 2022
Dbm Lao famous pharmally connect also in deped laptop mess. Criminal mind🙄🤮🤮
Who is his handler n principal at dbm presidential office?https://t.co/K3h2vcPfGU— crazyhorse226 (@crazyhorse226) August 12, 2022
Mayroon yan mga kasabwat si Lao sa DepEd.
Ang mga ganyang pagnanakaw ay conspiracy yan.
Let someone speak up now.
To hell you will all be burned in everlasting fire.
Pera ng mga taxpayers yan.
Mabuti pa ang Safeguard may Kunsensya.
Itong mga kleptomaniacs sa gobierno ay demons! https://t.co/j5HPhcAmVm— rainbow (@rainbow06406065) August 13, 2022
Digong & Bong Go magsalita kayo! Nakakabwsit! Mga DDS tukog pa rin kayo…#$%^?
Ex-DBM exec Lao of Pharmally mess tagged in overpriced DepEd laptops https://t.co/a0eyDA5cZX
— Ami (@AmiTSSur) August 13, 2022
According to the COA’s 2021 annual audit report, laptops bought for teachers by DepEd for P2.4 billion through the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service (DBM-PS) were “pricey for an entry-level type laptop.”
Auditors claimed that purchasing overpriced laptops “adversely decreased the number of intended beneficiaries from 68,500 to 39,583 public school teachers.”
“Per available documents, the Audit Team could not ascertain the DBM-PS basis for adopting the unit price of P58,300 in the ABC. Apparently, the supposed number of laptops to be procured of 68,500 units was significantly reduced to 39,583 units, which was mainly due to the huge increase of estimated cost from P35,046.50, based on DepEd’s submitted and approved APR, to P58,300 anchored on the DBM-PS recommendation, which was duly accepted by DepEd,” the COA added.
Lao is a member of Lex Talionis Fraternitas, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s fraternity. He graduated from the Ateneo de Davao University and passed the Bar exams in 2005.
In 2018, Rappler found Lao to be a close aid of Sen. Bong Go.
