Rep. Michael Edgar Y. Aglipay. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on good government and public accountability asked Tuesday the Senate Blue Ribbon panel to allow Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. Director Linconn Ong to attend the lower chamber’s probe on the government procurement of medical supplies and equipment for COVID-19 response.
In a letter addressed to Senator Richard Gordon, who chairs the blue ribbon committee, DIWA Rep. Michael Edgar Aglipay, who heads the House committee on good government and public accountability, expressed their wish to invite Ong to “elucidate on the alleged overpricing of medical supplies.”
However, Ong is currently under the custody of the Senate after he was cited in contempt for evading questions during the upper chamber’s probe.
“In this regard, may we respectfully request your Honor’s and that of your Committee the permission to allow Mr. Ong to participate via Zoom videoconferencing to the hearing of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on October 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.,” Aglipay said in the letter.
“Please provide Mr. Ong the facility and equipment to join the Zoom videoconferencing and participate in the Committee’s hearing,” he added.
Gordon earlier said that Ong is currently in a “safe house.”
The House has been criticized for seemingly defending the Duterte government amid the issue of the alleged overpriced COVID-19 supplies procurement.
On September 20, Aglipay made scathing accusations that the Senate regularly does investigations that would tarnish the reputation of leading presidential candidates.
Aglipay has since clarified that he does not want the Senate to stop its investigation on the alleged overpriced pandemic supplies bought from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., but added that senators should be fair in its treatment of resource persons.