Hontiveros asks COA to probe Lao's alleged P1.8-billion ‘pork barrel’ in Housing agency

Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the more than P5 billion funds collected from private housing developers, which include the alleged P1.8 billion alleged pork barrel of former Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao.

The senator said P5 billion funds under the Urban Development and Housing Act were the amounts placed in escrow accounts under various names.

Of the number, P1.8 billion were reportedly spent by Lao, when he was still working with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) in 2018 to 2019.

"Tumataginting na P5B ang nakolektang pera mula sa private housing developers simula nang pumasok  si Usec. Lao sa HLURB, na pahirap sa maraming maliliit na developers. Hindi maipaliwanag at matagpuan kung saan ginasta ang malalaking tipak nito noong panahon ni Lao," Hontiveros said in a statement on Monday.

(It showed that P5 billion were collected from private housing developers since Usec Lao entered the HLURB that became difficult for developers. They cannot explain nor identify the funds spent during Lao's stint at the agency.)

“Walang paper trail. Ang pera ay dapat ay napunta para sa pagtatayo ng murang  bahay ng minimum wage earners, pati na yung mga gustong umalis mula sa informal settlements. I urge COA to look into this matter and immediately, and I urge DHSUD to cooperate without hesitation,” she further said.

(There is no paper trail. The money should be spent to establish houses of minimum wage earners especially those who want to leave informal settlements.)

She further asked how the money was spent by Lao, adding that the former government official must respond to these allegations.

“Naging pork barrel ba ang pera? Hindi natin alam kung pabahay ba ang naitayo. Hindi kayang i-assemble ng DHSUD ang detalyeng matagal ko nang hinihingi. Sunud-sunod ang mga kinasasangkutan ni Lao, hindi lang barya-barya, kundi bilyon. Hindi na dapat ito palampasin pa.”

(Did it become a pork barrel? We don't know if houses were indeed established. DHSUD couldn't give me details. Lao is also facing several allegations that cost us billions of pesos. We should not let this pass.)

Lao has been contacted by GMA News Online to give his comment on the issues raised by the senator but has yet to reply.

This is not the first time that Lao was embroiled in controversy at the Housing authority. He is also facing an extortion rap that was flagged by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

Further, Lao was also being linked to the controversial P15 billion frigate deal for the Philippine Navy.

He was also the former head of Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Service where he was linked to the purchase of pandemic supplies from the controversial firm Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.—LDF, GMA News