Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday questioned why the Duterte government is negotiating with fugitives saying documents show that owners of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. which entered into a multi-billion contract with Department of Budget and Management’s procurement service (DBM-PS), have standing warrant of arrest in Taiwan.
Citing public records, Hontiveros said a certain Huang Wen Lie, also known as Tony Huang, who stands as chairman of Pharmally International Holdings, is wanted for securities fraud, stock manipulation and embezzlement.
While his son, Huang Tzu Yen, an incorporator in Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and Pharmally Biological Inc. is wanted for stock manipulation, the senator said.
“Bakit hindi ito naamoy man lang ng ating mga otoridad? Publicly available ang mga impormasyong ito (Why didn’t authorities know this? The information on this is publicly available),” Hontiveros said in an online interview.
According to Hontiveros, a copy of their arrest warrant released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, show that both persons have been on the run since Dec. 2020.
Based on records, the senator said both father and son have ties to Full Win Group, and the chairman of the Philippine version of the Full Win company is Michael Yang.
Duterte has earlier defended his former economic adviser, Yang, from allegations of involvement in illegal drugs, saying he has known the businessman for years and has been trading in Davao City.
It was Yang who had introduced Duterte in 2017 to officials of Pharmally, which bagged the P8.7-billion worth of contracts for the alleged overpriced medical protective equipment supplies.
A footage of Malacañang’s RTVM showed that in March 17, 2017, Duterte met with Yang and officers of Pharmally International led by Huang. Also present in the meeting were Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and former budget undersecretary Christopher Lao who is now being grilled by the Senate blue ribbon committee on his role in the deal.
“Kaya nang sumagot si dating Usec. Chris Lao na hindi daw nila ginawa ang kanilang ‘due diligence’ nakakadismaya (That’s why when Lao admitted they committed lapses and did not conduct due diligence, we are dismayed),” she said.
“Kaunting Google lang ay mayroon namang makikitang kalinawan na ang mag-amang Huang Wen Lie at Huang Tzu Yen ay parehong tinatakasan ang batas (A little Google would yield information that both father and son were fugitives),” added the lawmaker.
“Why did we even deal with these shady individuals and companies? Is there more to this story than what the president is leading us to believe? Is this the reason why the President cannot help but defend the businessman?” she pointed out.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said the panel cannot serve a subpoena against Yang because he could not be located.
While she understands the need for the government to attract investments for the country, Hontiveros said the state should be cautious.
“Gusto natin ng investors, pero anong klaseng investors (We want investors to come in, but what kind of investors)?” she pointed out.
Hontiveros said Yang should show up in the Senate blue ribbon committee’s next hearing which is on Sept. 7. “Michael Yang better show up next week,” the senator said.