Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, Sept. 22 demanded the suspension by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) of all active transactions and contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
Because of the many lies Pharmally has allegedly given to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Hontiveros said it is not right for government to continue giving Pharmally contracts that are paid for by Filipino taxpayers.
Latest figures computed by senators show that Pharmally was given more than P10 billion in ‘’overpriced’’ contracts for the delivery of emergency medical supplies related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hontiveros recalled that she had asked PS-DBM to stop proposals from Pharmally after she discovered that Pharmally officials have pending warrants of arrest issued in Taiwan.
In yesterday’s seventh hybrid public hearing by the Senate committee chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon, it was learned that Pharmally still has transactions with PS-DBM.
This surfaced after Hontiveros asked Mohit Dargani, Pharmally president, on Pharmally’s transactions.
Mohit Dargani , Pharmally corporate secretary and treasurer, earlier stated that he gifted a Lamborghini URUS sports car worth P25 million to his sister.
Mohit himself has a Porsche 911 Turbo S, worth P8.5 million.
The acquisitions of these expensive cars were revealed by Gordon who said he checked the registration documents of these vehicles with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Hontiveros said they also discovered that there are on-going deliveries at PS-DBM without notice of award or no contracts.
She said it is also a mystery in that the website of PhilGeps could not be opened.
PhilGeps is the electronic portal for government procurements.