The “Davao connection” is all over the transfer of P42 billion COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to the Department of Budget and Management in March 2020.
Lloyd Christopher Lao, who hails from Davao, is a fraternity brother of President Duterte, and is a former undersecretary in the Presidential Management Staff under Christopher Bong Go, approved the supply contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. Pharmally had a paid-up capital of only P625,000, and had no declared income in 2019. Pharmally officials were personally introduced to Mr. Duterte in March 2017 by Michael Yang, his former adviser on economic affairs who is also from Davao City.
The pattern is unmistakable: The Davao connection is entrenched in government corruption.
All good men and women should stay focused on the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation to see what other connections it can reveal.
JOSE J. FERRER JR.
jjferrerjr1@yahoo.com