Blue ribbon to recommend charges vs Lao, Liong, Yang, Pharmally execs

The Senate blue ribbon committee already has preliminary findings in its investigation into the controversial purchase of COVID-19 items at the onset of the pandemic, Senator Richard Gordon said Tuesday.

During the resumption of the hearing, Gordon said he would first show the partial report to his colleagues.

But he already mentioned the recommended charges that will be filed against Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation officials and former economic adviser Michael Yang.

"Marami na po diyan ang malalagay... si Michael Yang, si (former DBM-Procurement Service chief) Christopher Lloyd Lao, ang Pharmally Pharmaceutical directors and officers na kasama sina Michael Yang, ang Pharmally Pharmaceutical na si Krizle Grace Mago, Mohit Dargani, Twinkle Dargani, 'yung mga fraud na pineperpetrate na sina Lloyd Lao, sila  (Overall Deputy Ombudsman) Warren Liong, 'yan po ang preliminaries na nakikita natin or partial report," Gordon said.

"'Yung perjury, false testimony na ginawa ni Michael Yang, Linconn Ong, Grace Mago, 'yung falsification of public documents under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code na ginawa nila Warren Liong at tinulak si Mendoza at Tanquintic na sabihin na dumating ang produkto, samantalang walang dumadating, hindi pa nila nakita kung ano 'yung mga produkto na 'yan," he added.

He also mentioned the recommendation to file charges for alleged violations of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act and for the disobedience to summons against Yang and Pharmally executives.

"Disobedience to summons, ayan sila Linconn Ong, sina Mohit Dargani, Michael Yang, at saka Twinkle Dargani... violation of Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, Michael Yang, Linconn Ong, Pharmally Pharmaceutical Linconn Ong, Mohit Dargani, Krizle Grace Mago," Gordon said.

"Disobedience to summons issued by Congress, Pharmally Pharmaceutical Linconn Ong, Mohit Dargani, Michael Yang, Twinkle Dargani," he added.

The senator said the company's accountants could also be charged in connection to the issue.

He, however, said nothing is final yet as these were initial findings.

Of those mentioned, only Lao and Twinkle Dargani were not present during the hearing.

Gordon said the unwarranted benefits in favor of Pharmally were clear in the controversial procurement of medical items.

"Malinaw na po ang unwarranted benefits, advantage, or preference o favoritism na ibinigay sa Pharmally na mayroon lamang pong P625,000. Halos P11 bilyon ang ibinigay sa isang maliit na korporasyon na walang experience nitong mga nilagay ng Pangulo dito sa PS-DBM na hindi malaman kung saan nanggagaling ang kapangyarihang 'yan," he said.

Gordon said the inquiry, in aid of legislation, reveals "unconscionable, unabashed, and unethical circumventions of our Republican way of governance."

"Nadiskurbe po nating inuna ang kumita at makakuha ng komisyon o kickbacks, instead of coming up with the right way to quell the pandemic," he said.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is looking into the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service's purchase of P8.6-billion worth of face masks, face shields, and PPEs from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.

The company only had a P625,000 paid-up capital.

'Kwentong kuchero'

Sought for comment during a Palace briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque dismissed the blue ribbon's finding as politically motivated.

"Kuwentong kutchero po 'yan sa panahon ng pulitika. Walang ganyang ebidensya [That is just gossip amid political season. It's not backed by evidence]. There is no conspiracy," he said.

"In fact, the probe has proved that the President has nothing to do with purchasing of personal protective equipment," Roque added. —AOL/RSJ/KBK, GMA News