The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Friday, Feb. 18 allowed Linconn Ong, a detained Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation executive, escorted visits to his dengue-stricken son to show that the panel ‘’is not without compassion.’’

‘’For humanitarian reasons, but without wavering on or compromising our position regarding his contempt of the Senate, I, as chairman of the committee, will allow Mr. Ong fully escorted visits to his son in hospital for a limited time per day on dates to be set by the committee, the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, and authorities of the Pasay City Jail. Each visit shall be jointly supervised by the said authorities,’’ Senator Richard Gordon said.

On Feb. 14, Ong’s wife, Summer, wrote to the Gordon committee asking that Ong be released for humanitarian reasons as their son is confined at a hospital due to dengue infection.

Gordon said he wrote to the members of the committee and to Senate President Vicente Sotto III seeking their inputs and advice on the matter.

‘’At the same time, I wrote to Mrs. Ong to commiserate with her at this difficult time. I also offered the assistance of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in the event that a blood transfusion is needed as part of the treatment of the child,’’ Gordon, PRC chairman and CEO, said.

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, Gordon said a motion for the release or for house arrest was filed by Ong’s lawyer.

Gordon lamented that there has also been a massive social media campaign ‘’to paint the committee and myself as its chairman as heartless and insensitive.’’

In his statement released to Senate reporters, Gordon said: "Let us be clear here: Linconn Ong is held in contempt of the Senate and continues to be detained because of his failure to purge himself of his defiant conduct.

‘’He has been evasive in answering questions, and he misled and lied to the committee regarding his participation in the biggest injustice to the Filipino people during the time of the pandemic when so many were, and still are, suffering."

Gordon added: "He was part of a grossly underfunded corporation that was able to enter into supply contracts with PS-DMB, not only in the millions, but in the billions of pesos for overpriced protective supplies and equipment.

‘’During the time that their transactions were happening, Mr. Ong was able to purchase cars for himself - two Porsches and a Lexus - both worth millions of pesos despite a salary of only P80,000 a month. All this in the face of the suffering of our people."

He further said: "Mr. Ong’s continuing detention is a matter that can really only be determined by his acts: will he continue to be evasive or will he not; will he tell the truth finally or will he not; will he purge himself of his contumacious acts or will he not?

‘’The contempt powers of the Senate are exercised sparingly and deliberately. We impose it only upon those who actively set up obstacles in our investigations through lies, evasiveness, and other dishonest means."

The reelectionist solon continued: "We, as senators, should be firm in our resolve to protect and defend not only our duties to investigate, but also against individuals who attempt to make a mockery of our mandated processes.

''To fully release Mr. Ong at this time, in spite of his lies and contumacy, is to render the Senate powerless to protect itself and the nation. If we are to abide by our sworn duty to protect and defend the Filipino people, there can be no room to be soft on crime and to succumb to political pressure.’’