Youth group calls for arrest of two persons linked to Pharmally controversy

FILE PHOTO: This is a combination photo of Krizle Mago (left) and Rose Nono-Lin (right) during Senate investigations on the controversy involving Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A youth group asked Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon on Thursday to order the arrest of Rose Nono-Lin and Krizle Mago, who were both linked to the controversy involving Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

In a letter addressed to Gordon, the group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) pointed out that Nono-Lin, a stockholder being linked to the Pharmally issue, has shown “great disrespect” towards the Senate committee during the investigation.

“It is our most respectful view that the committee’s arrest order should also include Ms. Rose Nono-Lin, as she has shown great disrespect to the committee in the manner that she had been responding and evading questions of the Honorable Committee,” SPARK said.

“In fact, her responses have drawn great public outrage, and betrays her clear tendency to lie and deceive the Honorable Committee and the public,” the group added.

SPARK was referring to Nono-Lin’s response when asked about one of the luxury cars registered to her name back in November.

“Natagpuan ko po ‘yan sa garahe po namin dahil hindi po ako mahilig sa sasakyan. Okay na po sa akin basta po tumatakbo at may masakyan po ako papunta po sa opisina,” Nono-Lin said during that Seante hearing.

(I just found it in our garage because I don’t really have a penchant for cars. I’m content with any car that can run and can ferry me to my office.)

Such a response, SPARK said, “should not go unpunished, as these outlandish claims demean the integrity of the Honorable Committee and the Senate.”

“It is thus our most respectful view that an order for Ms. Lin’s arrest should similarly be issued over her previous statements under oath which tends to demean the integrity of the Honorable Committee and the Senate,” it added.

SPARK likewise called for the arrest of Mago, a former executive of Pharmally, for recanting her earlier statements that her company might have “swindled” the government when it changed the expiration dates on the face shields it delivered.

“We believe that it is in the best interests of the taxpaying public to pursue the investigation and possible arrest of Mago,” SPARK said.

INQUIRER.net has sought the comment of Pharmally on this issue but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. Gordon has also yet to give a comment regarding the group’s request.

KGA