MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals has dismissed for being moot and academic the petition for habeas corpus of Pharmaceutical Corporation Executive Twinkle Dargani, following her release from detention by the Senate on January 11.
In a resolution promulgated March 1 but made public Tuesday, the appeals court’s Special Fifth Division said it has been informed that the Senate has already released Dargani from detention as of Jan. 11.
“No further action needs to be taken with respect to petitioner Twinkle Dargani, the petition as to her having been rendered moot and academic. Thus her petition is dismissed,” read the court’s resolution signed by Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas Jr., Maria Filomena Singh, and Bonifacio Pascua.
However, the resolution did not mention Mohit Dargani, another petitioner who has been in detention since November last year, together with another Pharmally executive, Linconn Ong.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the counsel of the Pharmally executives in a press conference said that his clients have been treated worse than criminals, “limited to no visitation rights, limited interactions and communications with their lawyers among other things, and they have not been charged with any crime.”
“Remember only the three showed up and tried to give their testimony but were forbidden to speak up and give their side of the story. The Senate records will show that they were not even allowed to read their statements prior to the start of the hearings,” he said.
Pharmally has been under scrutiny due to its alleged involvement in the overpriced procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs) while the country was battling the COVID-19 pandemic during its peak.
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