The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), under the leadership of Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, assures the public of its full compliance with the recent decision of the Office of the Ombudsman against former DBM and Procurement Service (PS) officials, as well as Pharmally officials in connection with the government’s purchase of P4 billion worth of RT-PCR test kits from Pharmally.

Secretary Pangandaman has directed PS-DBM Executive Director Dennis Santiago to enforce the decision concerning former PS-DBM Director Warren Liong and Procurement Management Officer Paul Jasper de Guzman, as well as 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 Ombudsman has imposed the penalty of dismissal from service, forfeiture of all retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service on the aforementioned officials. However, due to their separation from service, the dismissal penalty will be converted into a fine equivalent to one year’s salary of the respondents.

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

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