The head of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-arms on Monday disclosed that a brief chase ensued after Mohit Dargani, Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation’s corporate secretary and treasurer, tried to evade the arresting team even after they had already cornered him and his sister, company president Twinkle, at the Davao International Airport.

Other than that, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Rene Samonte, said they didn’t have a hard time arresting the Darganis when they swooped down on them at the Davao airport on Sunday afternoon.

The Dargani siblings are now under the custody of the Senate.

The Pharmally executives had attempted to fly out to Malaysia through a chartered plane to evade authorities after they have been cited in contempt by the Senate in connection to the Senate blue ribbon committee’s investigation into the alleged overpriced COVID-19 pandemic supplies the government brought from the company.

“Hindi naman (kami) nahirapan kasi nasa loob na ng plane. Sumama naman pababa ng maayos (We didn’t really have a hard time because they were already inside the plane. But they went with us peacefully),” Samonte told reporters in a text message,

“Pero while walking towards the vehicle where they will ride, Mohit ran back towards the plane. It was a short chase at nahabol naman agad (he was caught immediately). He was warned that if he will do that again, he will be handcuffed. From there ok na and smooth,” the OSAA chief added.

Samonte said he is humbled to learn that an unnumbered Senate resolution commending OSAA for their successful arrest of the Dargani siblings is now in the works.

“I’m personally elated to get such commendation from this very honorable chamber. Of course, it is very much appreciated by the men and women of OSAA. And it will surely boost the morale and will of everyone here in this office,” he said.

Sought to comment on presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s statement that Malacañang was the one who prevented the Darganis from leaving the Philippines, Senate President Vicente Sotto III merely shrugged him off.

“Bahala siya. I doubt if he knows that the Senate Sergeant-at-arms used to be the head of the Philippine Air Force (PAF),” Sotto said.

As of this writing, the Senate Medical and Dental Bureau (MDB) said it has conducted a medical check-up on the arrested Pharmally executives and are now under the Senate’s custody.

Dr. Cristeta Cocjin, head of the Senate MDB, said they need to get the Darganis’ vital signs, medical history and conduct a physical examination to ensure their health and well-being.