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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider COVID-19 positive Twinkle Dargani remains under Senate custody

COVID-19 positive Twinkle Dargani remains under Senate custody

Published Jan 10, 2022 10:01 am

Twinkle Dargani, president of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation that bagged billions of pesos of COVID-19 medical supply contracts, will stay at the Senate Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) office after being tested COVID-19 positive.

Retired Major General Rene Samonte, OSAA chief, said the Senate Medical Bureau advised him that they decided to no longer bring Twinkle to the government-run Philippine General Hospital (PGH) or any other isolation facility.

As the PGH is experiencing a high occupancy rate, the Senate Medical Bureau reasoned out that they could easily monitor Twinkle’s condition if she continues to stay at the Senate OSAA.

Senate doctors reported that Twinkle is experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms that she had to undergo a RT-PCR test last January 6. She had complained of sore throat.

The Senate building has been in total lockdown until January 16 where no employee or visitor are not allowed to enter to give way to disinfection procedure.

The Senate is scheduled to resume regular session on January 17 following a Christmas break.

Twinkle has been in detention at the Senate OSAA since November 14 on orders of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee following her failure to submit corporate documents related to the Pharmally contract to supply the Procurement Service, Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) with COVID-related medical supplies worth more than P10 billion.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon had questioned PS-DBM officials why they entered into a contract with Pharmally since it had only a P625,000 paid up capital.

Twinkle’s brother, Mohit, and Linconn Ong were also detained at OSAA but were later transferred to the Pasay city jail for the same Senate contempt charges. Mohit is the Pharmally corporate secretary while Ong is a Pharmally director.

OSAA agents guarding Twinkle are reported COVID-free.

But there are 46 employees and security personnel of the Senate tested COVID-19 positive.

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