Ombudsman decision on Pharmally a 'big step' to accountability —Risa, Drilon

The order of the Office of the Ombudsman to file cases against several individuals linked to the controversial P4.1-billon government transaction with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation is “big and important” step towards seeking accountability, Senator Risa Hontiveros and former Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Thursday.

Hontiveros and Drilon made the statement after the Ombudsman released a resolution directing the filing of three counts of graft charges against former Budget undersecretary Christopher Lao, former Department of Budget and Management procurement director Warren Liong, DBM procurement management officer Paul Jasper de Guzman, and Pharmally officials Twinkle Dargani, Linconn Ong, Justine Garado, and Huang Tzu Yen.

The two played a significant role in grilling the involved individuals during the 18th Congress’ investigation on the controversial transactions which were made at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Mahalagang hakbang ito tungo sa pagsingil ng accountability at hustisya laban sa mga taong nasa likod ng kahindik-hindik na pagsasayang at maling paggamit ng limitadong pondo ng pamahalaan habang naghihirap ang mga Pilipino sa gitna ng  pandaigdigang pandemya,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

For the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, the Ombudsman decision “validated” the draft committee report of the 18th Congress’ Blue Ribbon Committee which recommended plunder charges against former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, Lao, Liong, Ong, Twinkle Dargani, Mohit Dargani,  Krizle Grace Mago, Huang Tzu Yen as well as Chinese businessman Lin Weixiong.

The same draft report also recommended charging former President Rodrigo Duterte of betrayal of public trust.

“Hindi maibabaon sa limot ang kasalanan ng mga opisyal at negosyante na piniling magpayaman gamit ang pondong nakalaan sana para tulungan ang mga kababayan nating pinadapa ng COVID-19 pandemic at ng mga lockdown,” Hontiveros said.

“Sana ay magsilbi ang araw na ito bilang babala sa lahat ng nagpaplanong nakawin at lustayin ang kaban ng bayan:  Darating at darating ang hustisya,” she added.

While Drilon said that the Ombudsman’s move “marks a significant step towards holding those responsible accountable for their actions,” the former senator mentioned in his statement his earlier remark that Pharmally’s “backer” has yet to be determined.

“The challenge now is to be able to identify that backer, because that backer is the missing link that will connect the dots in this controversy.  We see a pattern of corruption that was perpetrated by Lao and his cohorts. It cannot be done by Lao alone. Kaya mayroon siyang pinagtatakpan at iyon ang dapat nating alamin kung sino,” Drilon said.

In 2021, Drilon argued that Lao “couldn’t have orchestrated the intricate web of corrupt activities on his own” and voiced his suspicions that “a higher-ranking official might have empowered Lao.”

He then expressed hope that the Ombudsman’s efforts will lead to the “unmasking” of every individual involved in the supposed misuses of COVID-19 supplies, including Lao’s “backer.”

Drilon likewise stated that the Ombudsman’s decision is a “clear indication that our institutions will not tolerate corruption, especially in times of crisis.”

To recall, it was Drilon who divulged that Pharmally was able to bag billions worth of government contracts through the PS-DBM even though its paid-up capital was only P625,000.

Drilon earlier revealed that from zero declared income in 2019, Pharmally recorded a gross income of P384.04 million and a net income of P264.65 million in 2020.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was also played a key role in investigating the matter, noticed that the alleged “financier of the syndicate” was missing in names of individuals to be indicted.

“While somebody whose name was prominently and repeatedly mentioned during the Senate hearings as the alleged financier of the syndicate is apparently missing in the list of those recommended for indictment, it is still good enough to commend the Ombudsman for this latest development,” Lacson told GMA News Online.

“That being said, I am willing to concede that maybe the evidence is not sufficient to establish probable cause against him,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero issued a separate statement asking why the Ombudsman did not recommend plunder charges against the involved individuals.

“The wheels of justice may be slow but continues to grind nevertheless. I have yet to see/read the resolution but I wonder why plunder charges were not recommended given the amount involved which clearly exceeds the threshold of ?50 [million] for plunder,” he said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News