Richard Gordon/Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate blue ribbon committee will release its preliminary report on the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. mess on January 31.
Pharmally is under investigation by the Senate panel over alleged corruption in its contract with the government to deliver COVID-19 pandemic supplies.
“Ito ang malinaw na malinaw, malinaw pa sa araw at gabi na talagang ninakawan ang bayan. Napatunayan na ng blue ribbon ‘yan at ilalabas namin ang report pagkatapos naming makuha itong tatlo o apat o limang tao na ito pero maglalabas na kami ng preliminary report sa Lunes,” Senator Richard Gordon, panel chair, said on Thursday’s hearing.
(This is what’s clear, more evident than day and night, that they stole from the country. The blue ribbon committee has proved it and we will release the report after we get these three to five people but we will release it on Monday.)
“Bato bato sa langit, tamaan ‘wag magagalit at umaasa ako na ang mga senador ay pipirma at ako’y nakikiusap sa lahat na panoorin niyo sapagkat diyan natin makikita kung tayo ay may spine kung tayo ay may paninindigan na ipagtanggol at ‘di mapabayaan ang mga kababayan nating Pilipino na ito huling-huli, huling-huli ang kabuktutan, ang katiwalian,” he continued.
(When confronted with the truth, do not get mad. I hope that senators will sign and I appeal for everyone to watch it because we will see if we have a stance to fight for our fellow Filipinos now that there are irregularities.)
The blue ribbon committee also cited in contempt five individuals who were linked to the Pharmally issue for skipping Senate hearings. These are Rose Nono-Lin, Gerald Cruz, Jayson Uson, Sophia Custodio, and Dennis Manalastas.
READ: Senate panel cites Rose Nono-Lin, 4 others for contempt
READ: Rose Nono-Lin absent during Senate hearing due to COVID-19
Gordon lamented that many Filipinos suffer from the opportunistic practices of the firm and its officials involved in the anomaly.
“Ang dami pa rin hanggang ngayon nahihirapan diyan sa COVID and talagang ang babayaran natin after COVID, malaki-laki. Hindi makapasok ang mga bata sa eskwela… Nagsimula ‘yan sa China tapos sinamantala ninyo ‘yung pangungulimbat diyan sa COVID,” he pointed out.
(Many people still suffer from COVID and we will pay big after COVID. Children cannot go to schools. It started with China which was taken advantage of by the firm.)
“Talagang nakakaawa, ayaw kong sabihing nakakaawa ang Pilipino pero dapat ang Pilipino talagang makutya at magalit at talagang dapat ‘wag nating palusutin ang mga taong ito na nag-walanghiya sa ating bayan,” added Gordon.
(It’s really pitiful, I do not want to say Filipinos are pitiful but Filipinos should ridicule and be angered and we should not let these people get away for ruining the country.)
Pharmally bagged government deals worth billions of pesos to provide medical supplies to the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic despite having only a paid-up capital of P625,000.
READ: Pharmally overpriced sales to gov’t – Drilon