THE Office of the Ombudsman recommended the filing of criminal charges against former Health secretary Francisco Duque and former Budget undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao over the alleged illegal transfer of P41 billion in procurement funds for equipment and other items during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a 49-page decision issued on May 6 and signed on May 8 by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, the special panel of investigators also found Duque and Lao guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.