Lloyd Christopher Lao, former head of the scandal-ridden Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management, was finally arrested by police but was swiftly freed after posting bond.

Lao was among the government officials under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte to be linked to the multi-billion peso procurement anomaly at the height of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Together with former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Lao had beren charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices before the Sandiganbayan.

The former PS-DBM chief was arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) din Davao City on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan.

He immediately posted a P90,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Lao and Duque are among the state officials charged in connection with their alleged participation in irregularities in the transfer of PHP41 billion funds from the Department of Health for purchase of overpriced and unnecessary COVID 19 medical supplies at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, former Sen. Richard Gordon called for the filing of plunder cases against ex-President Duterte and officials in his government linked to the Pharmally scandal.

“The Filipino people deserve no less than the incarceration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Lloyd Christopher Lao, Michael yang and the rest of their ilk, they have blood in their hands,” he said.

Reacting to the arrest of Lao Gordon said: “I am glad that Mr. Lao, one of the architects of the plunder-plagued Pharmally scandal, has finally been arrested and will face justice soon before the Sandiganbayan. I suppose other perpetrators will soon be arrested as well.”

Gordon, who was chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee that probed the Pharmally anomalies, said government lost over P11 billion in the anomalous deal.

Gordon said the accused deserve to be charged with non-bailable plunder cases.