Yang admits he signed a non-disclosure agreement with Pharmally

Former presidential adviser Michael Yang revealed on Tuesday that he signed a non-disclosure agreement with officials of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, which is involved in controversial government COVID-19 supply deals.

During a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the government's COVID-19 supply procurement, Senator Richard Gordon quizzed Pharmally official Linconn Ong, a Senate detainee, about Yang's involvement in business transactions at the firm.

But Ong refused to mention it, citing a non-disclosure agreement with Yang.

"As I mentioned, mayroon pong non-disclosure clause I cannot disclose it," Ong told Gordon.

In previous Senate hearings, Pharmally president Huang Tzu Yen admitted to legislators that they borrowed money from Yang because they did not have the financial capacity to deliver the government contracts. This was continuously denied by Yang.

Asked by Gordon about Huang and Ong's remarks, Yang again denied that he had a hand in Pharmally's business.

"I mentioned this previously that I introduced friends to them (Pharmally) to provide them with the goods," Yang said via his translator.

But Gordon continued to press his query, saying that Huang admitted that Yang lent them cash.

"So how much money have you placed in terms of guaranteeing in this corporation?" Gordon asked.

Yang then still denied signing a non-disclosure agreement with Ong.

"I did not sign a non-disclosure agreement with Mr. Linconn Ong. I only introduced friends who will supply goods," he said through his translator.

"So either you (Ong) or Michael Yang are lying," said an exasperated Gordon.

Ong responded that something was "lost in translation" between Yang and his translator.

When Gordon asked Yang again about the agreement, Yang suddenly retracted his statements.

"Yes, Mr. Chairman, we have signed a non-disclosure agreement," he admitted.

A surprised Gordon asked Yang's translator to repeat the statement.

"Sinabi niya wala siyang pinirmahan di ba?" Gordon said.

(He said earlier that he didn't sign anything didn't he?)

Subsequently, Yang said he did sign the non-disclosure agreement but did not give details.

"Yes that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Linconn Ong," Yang's translator told Gordon.

When questioned about the contents of the NDA, Yang said "Verbally, I guarantee for them."

Yang also refuted claims that he introduced Chinese businessman Lin Wei Xong to Pharmally.

"I only verbally guaranteed for them. I did not send Mr. Lin Wei Xong. I also did not invest money into the company," said Yang.

Lin was earlier identified as the financial manager of Pharmally. Gordon also presented photos of Lin with Yang as well as Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. — DVM, GMA News