Gordon says Pharmally execs in detention for lying

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee "had no other just choice" but to detain Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation's executives, Linconn Ong and Mohit Dargani, for lying about the whereabouts of the firm's financial documents, Senator Richard Gordon maintained Thursday.

Gordon, who chairs the committee, issued a statement after Ong and Dargani sent a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III urging the latter to act on their "unjust" detention in Pasay City jail, arguing that there are no cases filed against them.

Ong and Dargani both alleged that Gordon used them for "his own political ambitions," adding that their lives and reputation were "robbed" by the senator.

On Thursday, Gordon said he was not surprised by the development as the detained Pharmally officials have been "relentless in their campaign for release even if they lied, continue to dissemble, and refuse to submit papers and documents that [are] required by the Blue Ribbon Committee."

The lawmaker disclosed that Dargani and Ong have "lobbied" some senators, high-ranking officials, and persons close to him "to effect" their release from detention. He also noted how the two are able to issue press releases.

Gordon rebuffed Dargani and Ong's claims that they were detained simply because it was the liking of the committee, explaining that the Blue Ribbon panel "uses sparingly and rarely its powers to declare those who appear before it in contempt."

He further explained that only violators of the rules of the committee are subject to contempt, particularly the act of lying before the committee, refusing to answer a valid question asked of the witnesses, and refusal to bring the documents required to be submitted, among others.

"Mr. Dargani and Mr. Ong promised, during a hearing, to locate and submit documents regarding Pharmally’s dealings with PS-DBM for the acquisition of protective materials and other goods to be used in the Covid-19 pandemic. They were even given the opportunity to be released from detention so the documents they had promised to submit could be located. However, when the day came for them to be released, they sent word that those documents did not exist," Gordon recalled.

"For lying that they will bring documents and for failure or refusal to submit such documents to the Committee, the blue Ribbon had no other just choice but to continue their detention. They have no one but themselves to blame for their continuing detention in the same manner that only their action, their compliance with just directives can pave the way for their release," he added.

Gordon refuted Dargani and Ong's allegations that he was using them for his "political ambitions."

"There is no bigger lie. On the contrary, I was aware from the start that the hearings on Pharmally could hit many personalities and thus could animate those adversely mentioned into campaigning against me. And, that is exactly what happened. I have suffered from negative campaigning, especially in social media, where trolls were organized against my candidacy. Powerful men have publicly issued statements urging our constituents not to vote for me," Gordon, who is running for re-election, said.

"If the price to be paid for doing my job excellently and passionately – all for the benefit of the people – was and is targeted negative campaigning, that I have paid and will always be willing to pay," he added.

Last year, Gordon led the Senate blue ribbon committee's inquiry into the transfer of P42 billion COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (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.

In November, Ong and Dargani were turned over to Pasay City Jail after they refused to disclose the documents on the company's financial statements.

Earlier, Dargani and Ong asked the Senate blue ribbon committee to grant their request for house arrest.

Their relatives also asked for help from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) over their continued detention at the Pasay City Jail and their treatment by Senate officers while detained.

Dargani's petition questioning his continued detention over the alleged anomalies in the government's COVID-19 expenditures is already pending before the Court of Appeals.

The Senate blue ribbon committee chairman's report previously recommended the filing of criminal charges against Ong, Dargani and several government officials and individuals in connection with the alleged anomalous purchases of COVID-19 supplies.—LDF, GMA News