The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of three counts of graft charges against former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Christopher Lao, two other former DBM executives, and Pharmally officials in connection with the government’s purchase of P4 billion worth of RT-PCR test kits.
Aside from Lao, also ordered indicted for three counts of graft were former DBM 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 Ombudsman said Pharmally got the huge P4 billion government contract even if its paid up capital is only P625,000.
“Said award to Pharmally was a complete disregard of the provision that the procuring entity should directly negotiate or procure from a legally, technically and financially capable supplier, distributor, manufacturer, contractor or co sultant as embodies in the Government Procurement Policy Board and the Procurement law,” the Ombudsman added.
In response to the Ombudsman’s decision, the camp of Pharmally officials maintained that they are not liable for graft or any form of corruption.
Ferdinand Topacio, the counsel for the Pharmally officials, said in a statement, that “we are prepared to exhaust all remedies under the law to assail the indictments, and look forward to our day in court, where we can—once and for all—prove that these persons have done nothing wrong, and that these charges stemmed from a political vendetta which has ultimately backfired on its authors, and will continue to haunt these politicians,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday welcomed the Ombudsman’s filing of graft charges against the DBM officials. “I hope this day will serve as a warning to all planning to steal from the nation’s coffer that justice will soon come,” she said.
Hontiveros said this is an important step toward exacting accountability and justice against those behind this “deplorable wastage of government funds while Filipinos are suffering from a global pandemic.” The findings of the Office of the Ombudsman also validated the initial draft of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Report last year, also recommending the filing of charges against executive officials tagged in the anomalous transaction for pandemic supplies.
Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon meanwhile expressed strong support for the recent Ombudsman ruling on the Pharmally scam “This move by the Ombudsman marks a significant step towards holding those responsible accountable for their actions,” Drilon said.
“I commend the Ombudsman’s decision to pursue graft charges against these individuals involved in the irregular procurements of pandemic supplies. This is a clear indication that our institutions will not tolerate corruption, especially in times of crisis,” said Drilon.
Drilon was instrumental in exposing Lao’s corruption schemes during the Senate hearing on the controversial procurement in 2020 and 2021. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
