Fugitive Christopher Lao, the former officer-in-charge of the Department of Budget and Management - Procurement Service (PS-DBM), was arrested in Davao City on Wednesday, September 18, in connection with graft charges.
Lao was apprehended in Davao City by members of the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Region 11 under an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan dated September 12.
The warrant against Lao was issued by Sandiganbayan 1st Division Chair Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega for his alleged violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
According to the CIDG, he was taken to the CIDG Regional Field Unit 11 office for documentation and appropriate processing.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges in August against Lao and former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, citing an alleged illegal transfer of funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds were reportedly meant for buying medical supplies for the pandemic, including detection kits, ventilators, personal protective equipment, and various test kits.
Lao allegedly favored several companies, notably Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., tied to former President Rodrigo Duterte and his former economic adviser, Michael Yang.
With a paid-up capital of merely P625,000, Pharmally managed to secure 26.39% of PHP 42 billion in contracts with PS-DBM for vital medical supplies.
