Prosecutors eye Gordon as witness in Duque, Lao graft case

Government prosecutors may call former Senator Richard Gordon to testify in the graft trial of former high-ranking health and budget officials over the controversial transfer of pandemic funds, the Sandiganbayan has been informed.

The case involves the alleged unlawful transfer of P41 billion from the Department of Health (DoH) to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS).

The funds were reportedly used to acquire medical supplies and equipment at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Facing charges before the anti-graft court’s First Division are former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and former PS-DBM Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao.

Gordon previously led the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into the multi-billion-peso transactions involving Duque and Lao.

Prosecutors indicated that the former lawmaker could take the witness stand as early as the court’s upcoming hearing on 3 August.

Unlike their required attendance during the televised Senate inquiries, both former government officials have not appeared in person for the Sandiganbayan trial sessions. Each posted a P90,000 bail following the formal filing of the graft cases in September 2024.