Senate panel cites Rose Nono Lin, four others linked to Pharmally issue in contempt

The Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday cited Rose Nono Lin and four other individuals in contempt for skipping the panel’s investigation.

Lin, a stockholder of a company linked to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, skipped the panel’s 18th hearing into the alleged anomalous government purchases of COVID-19 supplies in 2020.

At the early part of the hearing, Senate blue ribbon director general Atty. Noel Quimbo said Lin’s lawyers sent a letter informing the committee that she is experiencing gastric illnesses and she has contracted COVID-19. This letter was accompanied by a medical certificate.

According to Quimbo, Lin’s physician recommended to admit her for further medical examinations such as CT Scan, chest x-ray, urinalysis, complete blood count, among others.

However, Gordon questioned why Lin has been giving excuses every time the Senate blue ribbon is conducting a hearing.

“That’s medical certificate on behalf of Ms. Nono-Lin, it’s quite extraordinary that every time we have a hearing, Ms. Nono Lin refuses to testify for some reason or another. First, there was a typhoon, now she suddenly has COVID,” he said.

The lawmaker also took note that Nono-Lin is running for a congressional seat in Quezon City in the upcoming polls.

“One can campaign and she should have time to come around. I have not campaigned myself. I am running for a national office in the Senate and I’ve not campaigned [yet] because of my duties,” Gordon said.

He then made a motion to cite Lin in contempt which was seconded by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Apart from Lin, the following personalities were also cited in contempt:

• Dennis Manalastas
• Gerald Cruz
• Jayson Uson
• Sophia Custodio

According to Gordon, the contempt order will be forwarded to Senate President Vicente Sotto III so they could proceed with the issuance of arrest warrant.

Quimbo was also directed to make arrangements with the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms and relevant law enforcement agencies to serve the orders.

“This is not a punishment. This is just asserting and requiring that people respect the process of the Senate. Otherwise, we will become a paper tiger and that is part and parcel of the co-equal branch of the government,” Gordon said.

“We do not lock up people to punish them. They are locked up because they refuse to accept the invitation to appear on a vital matter that should help solve the problems of the country particularly during the pandemic,” he added.

Gordon also wanted to include former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao in the latest arrest order. However, Quimbo said there is still a standing order against the former Department of Budget and Management official.

The Senate panel is looking into the government's procurement of COVID-19 supplies, including the multi-billion peso contracts bagged by Pharmally Pharmaceutical, at the onset of the pandemic last year.—AOL, GMA News