Senate panel sends Pharmally exec to Pasay City jail

The Senate blue ribbon committee on Friday ordered the detention of Pharmally director Linconn Ong at the Pasay City jail for consistently evading the questions of the lawmakers during the investigation into the government-procured pandemic supplies in 2020.

The motion was first raised by Senator Francis Pangilinan when Ong refused to disclose the amount of money that former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang lent to Pharmally in order to supply bulks of pandemic-related medical goods to the government last year.

It was approved by Gordon when Ong failed to give details on Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation’s earnings and expenses stated in its books of accounts.

“I’m sick and tired of this. Pagod na rin ako e. Pagod na din tayong lahat dito e. The chair orders upon motion of Senators Lacson, Drilon, Hontiveros, Pangilinan as approved by the Senate President, the chair orders that the sergeant-at-arms transfer this man to Pasay City jail. So ordered,” Gordon said.

“When you lie and steal from our people you’re gonna pay,” he added.

In a message to reporters, Senate sergeant-at-arms Rene Samonte said there is no transfer order yet for Ong.

“Wala pa transfer order. Baka earliest bukas na kasi may kailangang kumpletuhin,” he said.

Ong will also be subjected to a medical examination before moving out of the Senate premises.

“Nung tinanggap namin si Ong ipina-medical sa Senate, araw-araw check-up. Kailangan bago release to Pasay jail check up ulit. Irerequest namin bukas pumasok ang doktor ng Senado,” he said.

Gordon also ordered the Senate panel to write a letter to the minister of finance of Singapore through the ambassador of the Singapore in the Philippines with regard to the case of Pharmally president Huang Tzu Yen.

Huang Tzu Yen failed to answer the senators queries as to where the Pharmally sourced the funding for the procurement of P688 million worth of COVID-19 test kits from A*Fortitude that were later on delivered to the Philippine government.—LDF, GMA News