The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended for six months 33 government officials in connection with the allegedly anomalous procurement of pandemic supplies in 2020 and 2021.
Among those suspended was Overall Deputy Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong, formerly the procurement group director of the Department of Budget and Management - Procurement Service involved in the purchases.
In 2021, then-Senator Richard Gordon, as blue ribbon committee chair, led the inquiry into the transfer of P42 billion COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to PS-DBM. This included the P8.6 billion PS-DBM used for purchasing face masks, face shields, and personal protective equipment from Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which only had P625,000 in paid-up capital when it entered into government transactions.
Gordon’s report recommended the filing of criminal charges against several government officials and individuals, including those from Pharmally, in connection with the purchases.
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