COA submits new docs in P41 billion Pharmally case

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan accepted yesterday new documentary evidence against former health secretary Francisco Duque III and former budget undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao.

The documents, tied to the P41.46-billion Pharmally pandemic fund transfer case, were submitted by Commission on Audit (COA) records officer Eljun Jumamil.

Defense lawyers countered the submission, arguing that they were unaware of the documents’ nature since prosecutors failed to present these during the pre-trial conference.

Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, chairperson of the anti-graft court’s First Division, allowed the evidence, saying it remains subject to verification.

The court dispensed with Jumamil’s oral testimony after he stipulated that he had no hand in the actual COA investigation.

Duque and Lao posted bail of P90,000 each following their indictment in 2024.

They are accused of “gross inexcusable negligence” over the allegedly illegal transfer of billions of pesos from the Department of Health to the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management between March and December 2020.