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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Detained Pharmally execs ask Senate to place them under house arrest

Detained Pharmally execs ask Senate to place them under house arrest

Published Mar 31, 2022 10:44 am

Two detained officials of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation have asked to be placed under house arrest instead of being detained at the Pasay city jail based on ‘’humanitarian considerations.’’

The two officials—Mohit Dargani, treasurer and corporate secretary, and Linconn Ong, director—of Pharmally, have been detained at the Pasay city jail since November 2021.

They had been cited for contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for failure or refusal to submit corporate documents related to their more than P10-billion contracts to deliver Covid-19 medical supplies to the Procurement Service, Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon had described the Pharmally contracts as ‘’over-priced.’’

Through their lawyer, Dargani and Ong said their families are suffering as a result of their months-long detention.

The two cited their being mixed with ordinary criminals at the Pasay city jail although they have not been indicted for any crime.

They also said that there is still no certainty when they would appear before the Senate committee as the Senate is on vacation because of the ongoing political campaign leading to the May 9, 2022 national and local elections.

Senator Richard Gordon, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman, is seeking reelection.

Dargani said they have filed an urgent motion for house arrest and/or release on March 17 and March 22.

He said his release might avert a family double tragedy - the health of his mother and depression of his sister, Twinkle.

Twinkle, Pharmally president, had been cited for contempt and was held at the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) but was allowed to be placed under ‘’house arrest’’ for humanitarian reasons.

Ong had also asked in his urgent motion last March 17 and March 22 that he be placed under ‘’house arrest’’ as his presence is needed by his wife and their two-year-old child.

Senators had said that the two would continue to be detained if they refuse or fail to submit the Pharmally corporate documents and that they might be released when the 18th Congress ends on June 30.

Related Tags

Senate blue ribbon committee Pharmally Pharmaceuticals linconn ong overpriced COVID-19 supplies Mohit Dargani
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