Former Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) Officer-in-Charge Lloyd Christopher Lao has been arrested by authorities in Davao City.
According to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief P/MGen. Leo Francisco, Lao was apprehended after a Senate-issued warrant of arrest.
The former official had allegedly gone into hiding in Davao following multiple attempts by the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to serve the arrest order at his registered addresses.
Lao faces charges under R.A. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
His involvement in the controversial overpriced procurement of COVID-19 kits during the height of the pandemic for health workers brought his actions into question.
Lao’s arrest comes after the Senate intensified efforts to hold him accountable for the alleged misuse of public funds in the procurement process.