Blue Ribbon cites Michael Yang in contempt, recommends arrest warrant for skipping hearing

The Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday cited former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang  and five officials of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. in contempt and recommended the issuance of arrest warrants for skipping the inquiry into the government’s procurement of alleged overpriced COVID-19 equipment.

“So the motion to cite in contempt…it has already been approved. There were no objections and as directed, the director general will send formally to the Senate President and the process should start to make sure that a warrant of arrest is issued," Senate blue ribbon chairman Richard Gordon said.

"That the [Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms] be asked to formally serve it to all law enforcement authorities and they be made aware that there is such a warrant of arrest issued by the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, part of the co-equal branch of the government,” he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III agreed with the recommendation to issue arrest warrants against Yang and the five Pharmally officials.  The papers will be sent to him for his signature.

The Senate panel has already issued two subpoenas for Yang to appear before the inquiry to answer questions on his alleged connection with Pharmally, a small firm that bagged billions worth of government contracts for the procurement of PPEs.

Pharmally officials

Apart from Yang, Senator Francis Pangilinan also asked the panel to recommend the issuance of warrants of arrest against Pharmally officials who were issued with two subpoenas but did not attend the Senate inquiries.

The Pharmally officials who will be issued with the arrest warrants are:

• Mohit Dargani
• Twinkle Dargani
• Linconn Ong
• Krizle Grace Mago
• Justine Garado

Gordon affirmed Pangilinan’s motion, saying the Senate panel “should really get them in here.”

Citing information from the Bureau of Immigration, Senate blue ribbon director general, Atty. Rodolfo Noel Quimbo said Mohit Dargani left the Philippines last August 18 and went to Dubai. There are no reports of his return yet.

The firm's president and chairman, Huang Tzu Yen, attended the hearing virtually from his residence in Singapore.

Apart from him, Iluminada Serbial, another official of the firm, attended the hearing virtually.—AOL/RSJ, GMA News