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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DBM assures compliance with Ombudsman's order on Pharmally mess

DBM assures compliance with Ombudsman's order on Pharmally mess

Published Aug 24, 2023 10:45 am

At A Glance

  • The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) assures compliance with the Office of the Ombudsman's decision.<br>Former officials involved in irregular procurement of Covid-19 test kits from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp are implicated.<br>Penalties imposed on the officials include dismissal from service, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from government reemployment.<br>Due to their separation from service, the dismissal penalty will be converted into a fine equal to one year's salary for each respondent.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it will comply with the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman regarding its former officials who were allegedly involved in irregularly procuring Covid-19 test kits from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

In a statement on Thursday, Aug. 24, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said she has instructed Procurement Service (PS)-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago to enforce the Ombudsman's decision concerning former director Warren Liong.

Pangandaman also mentioned the names of other individuals involved in the case: Paul Jasper de Guzman, Webster Laurenana, August Ylagan, Jasonmer Uayan, and Christine Marie Suntay.

“The DBM will likewise comply with the Ombudsman’s decision regarding former DBM Undersecretary Christopher Lao, as he was formerly part of the agency,” the press statement said.

The Ombudsman has imposed the penalty of dismissal from service, forfeiture of all retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service on these former PS-DBM officials. 

But since they are no longer in service, DBM said the penalty of dismissal will be replaced with a fine equivalent to their one-year salary for each person involved.

“The DBM holds steadfast in its commitment to uphold the principles of transparency, good governance, accountability, and strict adherence to the rule of law,” the department said.

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