Pharmally exec bares receiving death threats amid COVID-19 supplies issue

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation official Linconn Ong on Monday disclosed that he has been receiving death threats amid the Senate inquiry into the procurement of "overpriced" COVID-19 supplies.

During the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the matter, Senator Richard Gordon asked Ong who lent Pharmally money for the purchase of COVID-19 supplies.

Ong responded by claiming that he has been receiving death threats. He then read text messages he had received in which his life was threatened.

"Mr. Chairman, ang dami na po nadadamay dito sa nangyari sa amin. Natatakot na po ako," Ong said. "Mr. Chairman, mayroon po akong natatanggap na text messages... parang 'yung unang message po bibigyan ako ng isang linggo... 'You and your family will be killed if you won't admit your connection with the Chief Executive,' isa po 'yan."

(Mr. Chairman, a lot of people are getting swept up with what is happening to us. I'm frightened. Mr. Chairman, I've been receiving text messages... in the first message, I was given a week... 'You and your family will be killed if you won't admit your connection with the Chief Executive.' That was one of the messages.)

"Mr. Linconn Ong, we will give you a week of time, we'll make sure you have a Merry Christmas six feet under the ground. The agencies are locating you and your family...' Pinatay ko na po 'yung phone ko dahil natatakot na po ako sa nangyari," he added.

(I turned my phone off because I'm frightened by what is happening.)

Ong earlier said former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang acted as a guarantor when they were sourcing PPE supplies from China.

Yang, for his part, denied any links with their corporation. He said he had nothing to do with contracts that Pharmally had entered into but admitted that Ong had sought his help to introduce him to other Chinese businessmen who supply medical items. — DVM, GMA News