Pharmally Pharmaceutical executives Mohit Dargani and Linconn Ong should blame themselves over their continued detention since they continue to refuse to submit papers and documents that have been subpoeanaed by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Senator Richard Gordon said.

Gordon pointed this out on Thursday after the two executives, who were key figures in the alleged procurement of medical supplies and equipment for the government’s Covid-19 response, appealed for their release again to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

“This recent development comes as no surprise anymore. These two – Mr. Mohit Dargani and Mr. Linconn Ong – has been relentless in their campaign for release even if they had lied, continue to dissemble, and refuse to submit papers and documents that is required by the Blue Ribbon Committee,” Gordon said in a statement.

“For lying that they will bring documents and for failure or refusal to submit such documents to the Committee, the blue Ribbon had no other just choice but to continue their detention. They have no one but themselves to blame for their continuing detention in the same manner that only their action, their compliance with just directives can pave the way for their release,” the senator said.

Gordon, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming May 2022 elections, noted that the two even lobied some fellow senators, high-ranking officials and “even persons close to me” to effect their release from detention, and were even able to issue and have press releases see print or broadcast.

“First, it must be made clear that Mr. Dargani and Mr. Ong were not detained simply because it was the liking of the Committee. The Blue Ribbon, uses sparingly and rarely its powers top declare those who appear before it in contempt,” he said.

“Second, only clear violators of the Rules are subject to contempt: lying before the Committee, refusing to answer a valid question asked of the witnesses, and refusal to bring to the Committee documents required to be submitted, among others,” the lawmaker added.

“Mr. Dargani and Mr. Ong promised, during a hearing, to locate and submit documents regarding Pharmally’s dealings with PS-DBM for the acquisition of protective materials and other goods to be used in the Covid-19 pandemic. They were even given the opportunity to be released from detention so the documents they had promised to submit could be located. However, when the day came for them to be released, they sent word that those documents did not exist,” Gordon explained.

Both Dargani and Ong are detained at the Pasay City Jail under the orders of Gordon, Senate blue ribbon panel chief and signed by Sotto.

The Senate’s Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management (BROOM) has taken no action on Dargani and Ong’s appeal to the Senate.

According to Gordon, he is prepared to take the consequences of his decision, and reiterated there is no truth to presumptions that Dargani and Ong were detained to further his political ambitions.

“There is no bigger lie. On the contrary, I was aware from the start that the hearings on Pharmally could hit many personalities and thus could animate those adversely mentioned into campaigning against me. And, that is exactly what happened,” the senator stressed.

“I have suffered from negative campaigning, especially in social media, where trolls were organized against my candidacy. Powerful men have publicly issued statements urging our constituents not to vote for me,” he said.

“If the price to be paid for doing my job excellently and passionately – all for the benefit of the people – was and is targeted negative campaigning, that I have paid and will always be willing to pay. Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum,” Gordon emphasized.