Christopher Lao, Dargani siblings on Ombudsman's top list for graft raps | Inquirer News

Christopher Lao, Dargani siblings on Ombudsman’s top list for graft raps

/ 02:16 PM August 24, 2023

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended filing graft complaints against officials of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) and Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. due to their involvement in allegedly anomalous contracts.

In a resolution released on Thursday, the Office of the Ombudsman moved to recommend filing three counts of complaints for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against the following individuals:

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  • former PS-DBM head Lloyd Christopher Lao
  • former PS-DBM official and Deputy Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong
  • former PS-DBM official Paul Jasper de Guzman
  • Pharmally official Twinkle Dargani
  • Pharmally official Mohit Dargani
  • Pharmally official Linconn Ong
  • Pharmally head Huang Tzu Yen

Pharmally was dragged into the spotlight during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after the House of Representatives and the Senate investigated allegations that they overpriced face masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment (PPEs).

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According to the Commission on Audit’s report of the Department of Health (DOH), there were deficiencies in the P67.32 billion COVID-19 funds amounting to P42 billion, including funds transferred by DOH to the PS-DBM.

PS-DBM then tapped Pharmally to supply the health equipment, signing an P8.7 billion contract despite the company having a small paid-up capital of P625,000.

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READ: COA finds DOH lacking in managing P67.32-B COVID funds 

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During the hearings, it was revealed that masks were sold by Pharmally to the government at P28 per piece when local manufacturers were selling them at P13 per piece.

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However, government workers said that the prices of the emergency procurement made with Pharmally were high because of the supply shortage during the start of the pandemic.

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TAGS: Graft, Ombudsman, Pharmally, PS-DBM

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