Ejercito OK with reopening Pharmally probe in next Congress

Senator-elect JV Ejercito on Monday expressed interest for another investigation on the alleged anomalous government transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. in the next Congress.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Ejercito said the investigation involving the transfer of P42 billion in COVID-19 funds from the Department of Health to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) should be reopened as it concerns public funds.

“Ako, if this concerns public funds, definitely, bakit hindi natin…dapat talagang buksan natin (If this concerns public funds, the investigation should definitely be reopened),” he said.

However, he does not believe outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte was involved in the issue, contrary to what was stated in the draft report of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

“Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, ilang taon na, mayor pa kaming dalawa ay magkaibigan na kami, napakasimple ng lifestyle nito. Tingin ko, siya mismo ay hindi involved dito. Maaaring ‘yung mga nakapaligid, may nagsamantala o may nakasingit,” Ejercito added.

(As I’ve known him since we were mayors, Duterte has a very simple lifestyle. I think he is not personally involved in this issue. Maybe there were people around him who took advantage of the situation.)

The Senate blue ribbon committee had looked into the PS-DBM’s purchase of P8.6 billion worth of face masks, face shields, and personal protective equipment (PPEs) from Pharmally, a firm that only had P625,000 in paid-up capital when it entered into government transactions.

The report released by Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon in February, however, never reached the Senate plenary as some members of the panel refused to sign it.

In a privilege speech last week, Gordon took a swipe at senators who refused to sign his draft report on the Pharmally investigation, urging them to uphold the independence of the chamber and resist outside influence.

Pharmally officials Mohit Dargani and Linconn Ong were also released from the Pasay City Jail on Thursday, after six months in detention due to refusal to disclose the whereabouts of the documents on the company's financial statements that were requested in the Blue Ribbon probe.

Gordon previously recommended the filing of criminal charges against Dargani and Ong, and several government officials and individuals, in connection with the alleged anomalous purchases of COVID-19 supplies.

Senator Risa Hontiveros last Wednesday also said she was "very willing" to file a resolution in the next Congress for another investigation on the matter.—AOL, GMA News