Ombudsman orders withdrawal, reevaluation of unarraigned Pharmally cases

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered the withdrawal of the yet to be arraigned cases in the Sandiganbayan related to the alleged anomalous procurement of medical supplies from the Pharmally corporation in 2020. 

Remulla said he wanted to again evaluate the cases.

“I gave instructions to withdraw first the cases of Pharmally, where there has been no arraignment yet in the Sandiganbayan. Because I want to reevaluate the cases, I want to know the details that are put in the cases, because it really matters," Remulla said.

"The details are actually very important in these cases. I want the Sandiganbayan to have a good grasp of the cases immediately during the start of my term here,” said Remulla in a press briefing. 

Remulla noted that he wanted the cases ready for trial. 

“Ang gusto kong mangyari talaga, when we file the information in the Sandiganbayan, ready for trial na lahat…There may be some details lacking for the cases to be more effective and more pointed in theory,” he said. 

(What I really want to happen is, when we file the information in the Sandiganbayan, everything is ready for trial…There may be some details lacking for the cases to be more effective and more pointed in theory.) 

“Dapat pag-file mo ng kaso, kumpleto na, ready na ang prosecution team.” 

(When you file the case, it should be complete already; the prosecution team should be ready.) 

Remulla earlier said that his office would look again into the controversy, as it seems to have been forgotten. 

Former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, in May 2024, issued a resolution noting that it was unlawful for the Department of Health to transfer P41 billion to the Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Services (PS-DBM)

It said that the PS-DBM was only allowed to buy CSE, a category that did not apply to the COVID-19 pandemic supplies bought with the P41-billion allocation.

Remulla said that those withdrawn were cases that have yet to be arraigned. 

“May kasong na-arraign na…Pero we are talking about several cases. So yung wala pang arraignment, ayun yung pinahila natin para pwedeng pag-aralan,” said Remulla. 

(There are cases that have already been arraigned... But we are talking about several cases. So, the ones without an arraignment yet, those are the ones we had withdrawn so they can be reviewed.) 

The Ombudsman also said that he would seek help from former Senator Richard Gordon, who led the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that looked into the scandal, in revisiting the anomalous procurement of medical supplies.

"Gusto kong ipatawag si Senator Gordon tungkol dito sa bagay na ito para siya ang maglahad ng kanyang opinyon sa mga findings ng committee report, na hindi siya completely official committee report," Remulla said.

When asked if former president Rodrigo Duterte could be tagged in the case, Remulla said: “Well, depende sa allegations ng complaint, depende sa facts, and the evidence itself.” 

(Well, it depends on the allegations in the complaint, it depends on the facts, and the evidence itself.) 

The new Ombudsman expects that the review of the cases won’t take that long. 

“Hindi magtatagal ‘yan. Kasi nag-PI (preliminary investigation) naman ‘yan. Kailangan lang ang resolusyon ay pag-aralan nang husto base sa lahat ng nakalap na ebidensya sa pagdinig noon at sa lahat ng ebidensya naririto sa tanggapan ng Ombudsman,” said Remulla. 

(That won't take long. Because a PI (preliminary investigation) has already been done. What is needed is for the resolution to be thoroughly studied based on all the evidence gathered in the previous hearings and all the evidence that is here in the Ombudsman's office.) –NB, GMA Integrated News