Death threats follow the trail of Linconn Ong, an official of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation which garnered close to P11.15 billion in COVID-19 medical supplies-related contracts from the Philippine government although it had a paid up capital of only P625,000.
Ong made the revelation when he appeared today September 13 before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon that is undertaking public hearings in what Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon is a premeditated plunder at the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).
‘’You and your family will be killed if you will not admit your connection with the chief executive,’’ Ong said in reading a text from his cell phone.
‘’That I was given a week of time....(we) Make sure that you will have a Merry Christmas six feet under the ground. Agencies are locating you ....and your family enjoying the billions... fruits of your scam while you still can,’’ Ong added upon reading a separate text message.
Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, advised Ong not to be afraid.
‘’Huwag matakot, Switch off your phone. Throw your cell phone. Concentrate on the Senate Blue Ribbon committee,’’ Dela Rosa told Ong, adding that he (Ong) should concentrate in answering questions thrown at him by senators.
‘’Don’t he distracted by those in China. Tell them to come here,’’ he added.
Gordon reminded Ong that he is protected by the Senate Sergeant at Arms (SSAA) which had thrown a mantle of protection to Ong.
The Senate body is focused on Pharmally where Michael Yang, s former economic adviser of President Duterte, reportedly helped in getting hundreds of millions of pesos to help it (Pharmally) get contracts and delivery of medical supplies.
Pharmally and several other got contracts from PS-DBM amounting to P42 billion which represented the COVID-19 response funds of the Department of Health (DOH).
Ong told Gordon that he had asked Yang if he could help Pharmally raise money for it to access the brands because ‘’kulang ang cash namin. (we are short of cash).’’
Gordon had mentioned the P600 million figure when he asked Ong how much Pharmally needed then.
He also recalled an earlier testimony of Yang that he did not know Pharmally.
Gordon also reminded his colleagues that Pharmally had asked help from Yang three times.
Later during the hearing, Gordon ordered the Blue Ribbon committee Director-General to write a letter-request to the Department of Justice through the Bureau of Immigration to issue a watch order against Yang.