Lacson questions Dargani lawyer’s affiliation with office of a House member

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday questioned the affiliation of lawyer Daryl Ritchie Valles, one of the legal counsels of the Dargani siblings, with the office of a member of the House of Representatives (HOR).

During Lacson’s interpellation at the continuation of the Senate blue ribbon hearing, Mohit Dargani said Valles was hired as their family lawyer since August 2021.

Citing acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles’ statement, Lacson asked Dargani if Valles is still affiliated with the office of one of the members of the House of Representatives.

Dargani told the senator that Valles was once connected with the House, but “he also left that job.”

“I remember when we spoke in August, he already said that he has resigned,” Dargani said.

But Lacson pointed out that Nograles used a present tense when he made a statement on Valles.

The legislator cited Republic Act 6713 or the Ethical Standards of Public Official, particularly section 7, paragraph B, subparagraph 2 which states the prohibited acts and transactions.

“That is why it is very important that we establish the fact that whether Atty. Valles is still connected with the House of Representatives or not, because if he is still connected with the office of a member of the HOR then he is clearly violating Section 7, paragraph B, subparagraph 2 of 6713. And it carries a penalty of imprisonment,” Lacson said.

According to Section 11 of RA 6713, violations of Sections 7, 8 or 9 of the said law shall be punishable of at most five years or a fine of at most P5,000, or both.

The senator further noted that even if Valles was allowed by the speaker of the House to practice his profession, it is still subject to limitations.

“When our lawyers, members of our legislative staff would like to practice their profession, if you want to earn an extra living through honest means, then we allow them and the head of the office no less than the Senate president who would give them that limited authority,” he said.

“Kung government ang kalaban sa kaso (If he will lawyer against the government), he’s not allowed to practice the profession no matter how limited,” Lacson said.

Lacson then asked the Senate blue ribbon committee to verify Valles’ affiliation with the House of Representatives.

The motion was approved by Senate blue ribbon chairman Richard Gordon.

Previously, Gordon said Valles tried to lie about his previous affiliation with Malacañang when he visited the Dargani siblings at the Senate building.

Valles is a former director at the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP).

On November 14,  the Dargani siblings were arrested at the Davao International Airport. They were about to ride a chartered plane going to Malaysia despite having standing arrest warrants from the Senate.

Last month, the Senate blue ribbon committee cited the Dargani siblings in contempt after they failed to provide the necessary documents being asked by the panel.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is currently investigating the transfer of P42 billion COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (PS-DBM).

This includes PS-DBM’s purchase of P8.6 billion worth of face masks, face shields, and PPEs from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, a firm that only had a P625,000 paid-up capital when it entered transactions with the government.—AOL, GMA News