MANILA, Philippines — Michael Yang, President Rodrigo Duterte’s former economic adviser, has apparently guaranteed to the Chinese face mask and face shield suppliers that Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. can pay its dues as stated under the contract.
During the Senate blue ribbon committee on Friday, Pharmally director Linconn Ong said that Yang introduced them to Chinese companies that would supply the medical equipment. However, Ong said that the financial constraints forced them to ask for Yang’s help so that they could secure the deal.
“In addition to that Mr. Chair, he also guarantees for us, nag-guarantee sila para sa amin kasi totoo po ‘yong analysis ni Mr. Chairman na medyo challenging talaga pagdating sa financial,” Ong told Senator Panfilo Lacson who was asking him.
(In addition to that Mr. Chair, he also guarantees for us because the Mr. Chairperson’s analysis was really true that it was a bit challenging especially regarding our finances.)
In response, Lacson asked what Yang’s role was and what kind of guarantee he was giving as Yang said earlier that he did not have any involvement but to introduce Pharmally with the Chinese suppliers.
The senator also quizzed Ong and Pharmally about how they were paying the Chinese suppliers.
“Anong klaseng guarantee, ginagarantiyahan niya na makakabayad ka? Papaano mo binabayaran ‘yong mga Chinese suppliers? LC (Line of credit), money transfer, or cash? Papaano mo binayaran sila, kasi malaking halaga ito eh,” Lacson asked.
(What kind of guarantee, did he guarantee that you would be able to pay? How did you pay the Chinese suppliers, is that through LC (Line of credit), money transfer, or cash? How did you pay them, because this is big money.)
“Yes po Mr. Chair, may mga portion na kami na ang nagbayad dahil meron po naman kaming mga pondo sa amin, syempre mga savings ng our incorporators, and there are certain items that we don’t have the enough funds to settle, so Mr. Michael Yang guarantees for us,” Ong replied.
Lacson then quipped that it is not true that Yang did not have any involvement with the deal between Pharmally and the suppliers. Ong said that it appears the interpreter missed some of Yang’s statements because the latter admitted guaranteeing for Pharmally.
“I think medyo may na-miss si Mr. Interpreter kanina, (I think the interpreter missed something a while ago) I think Mr. Michael Yang also mentioned that he guaranteed for us,” Ong said.
“Guarantee meaning, salita lamang, laway lang na ito si Mr. Ong, kaya kayong bayaran nito, ikaw lahat ang nagbabayad, ang tanong ko how did you pay the suppliers?” Lacson asked.
(Guarantee meaning, it was only out of words, it was an assurance that this Mr. Ong can pay for these supplies, but how were you able to pay these suppliers?)
“May mga ibang supplier na hindi namin kayang bayaran so humihingi na po kami ng tulong kay Mr. Michael Yang which he guaranteed with the supplier na kapag nakatanggap po kami ng bayad from the government that’s the time we pay na lang,” Ong added.
(There were some suppliers whom we cannot pay so we asked for help from Mr. Michael Yang to guarantee to the supplier that we will pay once the government has made its disbursements and payments.)
Prior to Lacson’s question to Ong, he also asked Yang about his relations with Pharmally, which bagged over P8.6 billion in government deals to provide pandemic supplies like face shields and face masks.
Part of the deal is the procurement of allegedly overpriced face shields and face masks which were flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).
Yang clarified through his interpreter that he has nothing to do with Pharmally.
“We’d like to clarify, in terms of registration or set up of Pharmally Pharmaceutical, Mr. Yang has nothing to do with it,” Yang’s interpreter said, quoting the Chinese businessman who spoke in Mandarin.
“In terms of operation, Mr. Yang has not been involved or he has no idea,” the interpreter added.
The blue ribbon committee has launched a motu propio investigation on the overpriced pandemic supply issue, after COA flagged several items in the Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 funds.
This includes the P42 billion given to the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service (PS-DBM).
READ: Ex-DBM exec Lao’s name resurfaces as senators hit ‘overpriced’ face masks, shields
READ: COA finds DOH lacking in managing P67.32-B COVID funds