Pharmally officer who admitted 'tampering' supplies could not be contacted —Gordon

An officer of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. could not be contacted by senators after she divulged controversial testimonies in the firm's delivery of COVID-19 supplies to the government, Senator Richard Gordon said on Sunday.

On Twitter, Gordon revealed that they could not contact Krizle Grace Mago, the Pharmally officer who admitted to the tampering of expiration dates of face shields delivered to the Department of Health.

Gordon said this comes amid their offer to give her protection.

"Pharmally Pharmaceutical official Krizle Mago hindi na ma-contact ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee!" Gordon, chairman of the Senate panel, said.

(Senate blue ribbon committee could not contact Mago.)

"Noong ika-siyam na pagdinig ay inalok natin siya ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng proteksyon ng Senado ngunit nais niya muna raw itong pag-isipan,"  he added.

(During the ninth hearing, we asked her if she wanted protection but she said she needs to think about this offer.)

Timeline

Gordon's office also revealed that the Senate blue ribbon committee asked for Mago's address and location last September 24 for the protection they offered her.

At 7:27 p.m. of the same date, Mago, in response, told the committee that she will get back to them after the hearing.

Two days later, the committee made a follow-up on Mago's location. At 9:13 a.m., the committee could no longer reach Mago's phone.

"The Committee tried calling her number but she can no longer be reached," it said in a statement.

In a previous hearing, Mago said she tampered with the certificates of the "substandard" face shields upon orders of Pharmally corporate treasurer and secretary Mohit Dargani, who immediately denied the accusation.

Mago also believed that the company may have been swindling the government following the tampered certificates.

Prior to this, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed a video showing that a Pharmally employee said they were tasked to change the year in the certificates from 2020 to 2021. The face shields were also being repacked.

The employees said the face shields were being tampered even as the boxes were dirty and the shields were already yellow because of being soaked in rainwater.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is looking into the alleged overpriced pandemic items bought by the government last year.

For her part, Hontiveros expressed hopes that Mago is still safe, adding that they will pursue their offer to give her protection.

"Mananatiling bukas ang aking opisina na tulungan at bigyan proteksyon siya bilang kapwa babae," said Hontiveros.

'Protectors from the government'

Meanwhile,  Vice President Leni Robredo said there could be some higher officials protecting those involved in the alleged corruption.

"Hindi pala totoo na walang pera, may pera pero may pinagkakakitaan yung mga nakaupo. Hindi mangyayari itong Pharmally kung walang katulong," she said.

(It's not true that there are no funds. They have funds but some of those in power are earning from this. This will not happen if Pharmally did not have officials supporting them.) —KG/LBG, GMA News