The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended for six months 33 authorities officers in reference to the allegedly anomalous procurement of pandemic provides in 2020 and 2021, Unang Balita reported on Thursday, quoting Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
Among these suspended was Overall Deputy Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong, previously the procurement group director of the Department of Budget and Management – Procurement Service (PS-DBM) concerned within the purchases.
In 2021, then-Senator Richard Gordon, as blue ribbon committee chair, led the inquiry into the switch of P42 billion COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to PS-DBM.
This included PS-DBM’s buy of P8.6 billion value of face masks, face shields, and private protecting tools (PPEs) from Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which solely had P625,000 in paid-up capital when it entered into authorities transactions.
Gordon’s report really helpful the submitting of felony costs towards a number of authorities officers and people, together with these from Pharmally, in reference to the purchases. Several senators, nevertheless, didn’t signal the report.
Senator Risa Hontiveros in June final 12 months stated she was “very willing” to file a decision within the subsequent Congress for an additional investigation on the alleged anomalous transactions with Pharmally.
Gordon ran for reelection within the 2022 elections however didn’t win. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
