House takes custody of 'incommunicado' Pharmally exec Mago

The House of Representatives has taken custody of Pharmally executive Krizle Grace Mago a week after she was offered protection by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Representative Michael Edgar Aglipay said on Friday.

Aglipay, the chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said the House took custody Mago at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

"She is now safely inside the HOR," Aglipay said.

Mago was the Pharmally officer who told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that she was ordered to have the expiry dates changed on the company's face shields for delivery to the Philippine government.

She was offered protection by the Senate committee last Friday but could no longer be contacted on Sunday.

Mago also failed to appear in the Senate panel's hearing on Thursday.

Documents from Aglipay showed that Mago asked for protective custody from the House.

"Presently I cannot speak freely about the ongoing investigation on the allged overprice of medical equipment without feeling threatened due to the undue influence and pressure exerted from various sources," read a letter sent to Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and signed by Mago.

"The protective custody that I am requesting from the HOR would help me speak freely without unnecessary compulsion from anyone," it added.

Inter-chamber courtesy

Citing inter-chamber courtesy, Aglipay wrote Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Richard Gordon about the House taking custody of the witness.

Aglipay said his committee has issued a subpoena for Mago to appear before its inquiry on the DOH-Pharmally transactions on October 4.

"Should you require her participation in any of your hearings, please communicate with the Committee Secretariat and we will make the necessary arrangements for it," Aglipay said in his letter to Gordon.

“Finding merit to her request, the Speaker directed the Committee to take custody of Ms. Mago to ensure her safety and protection 24/7 within the premises of the House of Representatives during the duration of the hearing,” he added,

Mago admitted to tampering with the certificates of the “substandard” face shields upon the instruction of Pharmally corporate treasurer and secretary Mohit Dargani.

Dargani denied the allegation. 

Gordon worried

In a radio interview, Gordon said he had reached out to numerous people in fear of Mago’s safety.

“Sumulat muna yan si Mago dahil nag-worry nga kami, dahil nung nagsabi, delikado ito. Baka kinuha na siya. Alam mo siya nakakaalam, eh,” Gordon said.

“Nahuli na nga siya, ina-alter niya ‘yung expiry date and she admitted nilalamangan niya ang estado. Nakita namin ‘yung mga tseke na binibigay ng Land Bank siya nag de-deposit,” he added. 

Gordon also joked that Mago went to the House for protection because they treated her well.

“Ngayon, ba't naman siya pupunta sa House. Eh, kasi daw mabait ‘yung House. Mabait naman ako sa kanya, wala naman ako ginagawa sa kanya,” Gordon said.

He said he could extend an invitation to Mago to attend the Senate hearings.

No problem with Kiko, Tito

In a separate statement, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said he saw no problem with Mago under the protective custody of Congress.

“I understand the HoR will make arrangements to make her available should the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee request for her presence so if true then I do not see this as a problem,” he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Mago’s testimony before the Senate panel was already enough.

“Very good. As long as she is safe," Sotto said when told of the House taking custody of Mago.

"Her testimony given in the Senate is more than enough. The people have heard her already. We were concerned for her safety,” he added.  -NB, GMA News