Galvez clueless about Pharmally execs' link to ex-Duterte adviser

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said Friday he was unaware that executives of Pharmally firm that supplied the country's P8-billion COVID-19 pandemic supplies, have links to former Presidential adviser Michael Yang.

Galvez made the remark after Senator Richard Gordon -- in a Senate inquiry -- played a footage from state-run RTVM showing Chinese businessman Michael Yang and President Rodrigo Duterte having a meeting with Pharmally officials.

Yang was former presidential adviser on economic affairs.

Later, Senator Risa Hontiveros, citing records from Taiwan's Ministry of Justice website, said that Pharmally's chairman Huang Wen Lie, also known as Tony Huang, is wanted for securities fraud, stock manipulation, and embezzlement.

Also, the same website lists Huang's son, Huang Tzu Yen -- who sits as incorporator of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and Pharmally Biological Inc. -- as a wanted person for stock manipulation.

"Wala kaming kaalam alam po diyan (We know nothing about that)," Galvez said in a DZBB interview.

"It was crunch time and all we can think about is to save lives since doctors, nurses are dying due to lack of PPE (personal protective equipment). We just did our part," Galvez added.

Galvez then echoed presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's argument that Pharmally was able to deliver high-quality supplies at an affordable price, on time and were not paid until they were able to deliver.

Galvez then said he is willing to face Senate inquiry on this matter on September 7.

"Yes [I will attend] because we have to be given time to respond," Galvez said, adding, "To conclude this is plunder is very insensitive." 

Roque earlier said there is no need to conduct a background check on Pharmally because the company is a separate entity from personalities behind it. —LBG, GMA News