Pharmally accuses Hontiveros of bribing witness; Risa replies: We have 'receipts'

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation on Wednesday accused the office of Senator Risa Hontiveros of bribing their former warehouse staff who testified on the alleged substandard face shields, an allegation the lawmaker said was a lie.

Hontiveros said it was the former Pharmally warehouse staff who reached out to her office.

In a statement, Pharmally mentioned a video shown by Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the legal counsel of Pharmally director Linconn Ong, during a press conference on Wednesday morning.

The video shows another warehouse staff of Pharmally, claiming that one of Hontiveros’ staff members bribed his former co-worker in exchange for his testimony.

His former co-worker, whom he identified as “V-Jay”, said it was the driver of Hontiveros' staff who gave the money to his former colleague.

“Nabayaran siya para siraan si Ms. Mago at Pharmally,” he said.

(He was paid to launch allegations against Ms. Mago and Pharmally.)

He was referring to Krizle Grace Mago, the Pharmally employee who allegedly ordered the tampering of expiration dates of the face shields.

In the last hearing, Mago herself admitted to the tampering of expiration dates of face shields reportedly delivered to the Department of Health.

She likewise believed that Pharmally has swindled the government.

The Pharmally employee who was seen on the video shared by Topacio said they can prove that they do not repack substandard face shields, contrary to the claim of Hontiveros’ witness.

“Doon po ako mismo nagtatrabaho sa warehouse at alam ko po ‘yung ginagawa namin ay tama at wala pong nangyayaring anomalya,” he added.

(I work inside the warehouse and I know that what we do are usual and there are no anomalies that are happening.)

“Kaya po namin patunayan sa loob ng production na walang ganon at doon sa sinasabing mga reject na nakarating na raw po sa mga frontliner, hindi po ‘yun totoo,” he said.

(We can prove that there are no anomalies in our production and that it is not true that the face shields which are considered rejects were delivered to the frontliners.)

'May resibo'

On the other hand, Hontiveros countered the claims of Topacio’s witness.

“First, it was the witness who reached out to us. We have an e-mail thread to prove this. Like always, may resibo ako (I have receipts),” Hontiveros said.

“We vetted the information of the witness for weeks and obtained independent corroboration of his points,” she added.

The lawmaker pointed out that even Mago has admitted that the firm has “swindled” the government.

“That is unrehearsed testimony. It is on the record. Kaya huwag na silang magtangkang ilihis pa ang usapan (They should stop all their attempts to divert the issue),” she said.

Hontiveros emphasized that her office has no track record of “witness tampering and witness bribery” in all other investigations that was conducted by the Senate.

“Samantalang si Atty. Topacio, noong 2017, matatandaang sumugod sa opisina ko para kunin ang mga menor de edad na witness sa pagpaslang kay Kian De Los Santos. Hindi sya nagtagumpay dahil wala naman talaga sa dugo nya na magsulong ng katotohanan at hustisya,” she said.

(Meanwhile, it can be recalled that in 2017, Atty. Topacio went to my office to get the minors who are witnesses in the killing of Kian De Los Santos. He was not successful because it is not in his blood to pursue truth and justice.)

Hontiveros said she will face all possible cases that might be filed against her.

“Atty. Topacio, hindi mo maiisahan ang taumbayan. Not today. Tulad ng mga face shields na ipinasok ng Pharmally, luma, nangingitim at expired na ang script mo,” she said.

(Atty. Topacio, you cannot fool the public. Like the face shields delivered by Pharmally, your script is already stale.)

GMA News Online has contacted Topacio for comment but has yet to receive a reply.

Senators have been investigating the purchase of COVID-19 supplies made by the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service last year, during which Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation bagged more than P8 billion in government contracts for the said procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs), which were alleged to be overpriced. —KG, GMA News