The order of the Office of the Ombudsman to file instances towards a number of people linked to the controversial P4.1-billon authorities transaction with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation is “big and important” step in the direction of in search of accountability, Senator Risa Hontiveros and former Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon mentioned Thursday.
Hontiveros and Drilon made the assertion after the Ombudsman launched a decision directing the submitting of three counts of graft expenses towards former Budget undersecretary Christopher Lao, former Department of Budget and Management procurement director Warren Liong, DBM procurement administration officer Paul Jasper de Guzman, and Pharmally officers Twinkle Dargani, Linconn Ong, Justine Garado, and Huang Tzu Yen.
The two performed a big position in grilling the concerned people through the 18th Congress’ investigation on the controversial transactions which have been made on the top of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mahalagang hakbang ito tungo sa pagsingil ng accountability at hustisya laban sa mga taong nasa likod ng kahindik-hindik na pagsasayang at maling paggamit ng limitadong pondo ng pamahalaan habang naghihirap ang mga Pilipino sa gitna ng pandaigdigang pandemya,” Hontiveros mentioned in a press release.
For the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, the Ombudsman resolution “validated” the draft committee report of the 18th Congress’ Blue Ribbon Committee which beneficial plunder expenses towards former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former presidential financial adviser Michael Yang, Lao, Liong, Ong, Twinkle Dargani, Mohit Dargani, Krizle Grace Mago, Huang Tzu Yen in addition to Chinese businessman Lin Weixiong.
The similar draft report additionally beneficial charging former President Rodrigo Duterte of betrayal of public belief.
“Hindi maibabaon sa limot ang kasalanan ng mga opisyal at negosyante na piniling magpayaman gamit ang pondong nakalaan sana para tulungan ang mga kababayan nating pinadapa ng COVID-19 pandemic at ng mga lockdown,” Hontiveros mentioned.
“Sana ay magsilbi ang araw na ito bilang babala sa lahat ng nagpaplanong nakawin at lustayin ang kaban ng bayan: Darating at darating ang hustisya,” she added.
While Drilon mentioned that the Ombudsman’s transfer “marks a significant step towards holding those responsible accountable for their actions,” the previous senator talked about in his assertion his earlier comment that Pharmally’s “backer” has but to be decided.
“The challenge now is to be able to identify that backer, because that backer is the missing link that will connect the dots in this controversy. We see a pattern of corruption that was perpetrated by Lao and his cohorts. It cannot be done by Lao alone. Kaya mayroon siyang pinagtatakpan at iyon ang dapat nating alamin kung sino,” Drilon mentioned.
In 2021, Drilon argued that Lao “couldn’t have orchestrated the intricate web of corrupt activities on his own” and voiced his suspicions that “a higher-ranking official might have empowered Lao.”
He then expressed hope that the Ombudsman’s efforts will result in the “unmasking” of each particular person concerned within the supposed misuses of COVID-19 provides, together with Lao’s “backer.”
Drilon likewise acknowledged that the Ombudsman’s resolution is a “clear indication that our institutions will not tolerate corruption, especially in times of crisis.”
To recall, it was Drilon who divulged that Pharmally was in a position to bag billions value of presidency contracts by the PS-DBM regardless that its paid-up capital was solely P625,000.
Drilon earlier revealed that from zero declared revenue in 2019, Pharmally recorded a gross revenue of P384.04 million and a web revenue of P264.65 million in 2020.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero issued a separate assertion asking why the Ombudsman didn’t suggest plunder expenses towards the concerned people.
“The wheels of justice may be slow but continues to grind nevertheless. I have yet to see/read the resolution but I wonder why plunder charges were not recommended given the amount involved which clearly exceeds the threshold of ?50 [million] for plunder,” he mentioned.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
