More bombshells coming! Lacson says to present witnesses, documents on Pharmally controversy photo from Senate of the Philippines
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More bombshells coming! Lacson says to present witnesses, documents on Pharmally controversy

Sep 9, 2021, 4:42 AM
OpinYon News Team

OpinYon News Team

News Reporter

Senator Panfilo Lacson hints at presenting a witness, as well as documentary evidence, that can reveal the scope of what he called "premeditated plunder" inside the Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Service.

A DAY after he formally announced his intention to run for President, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he is ready to expose more dirt on the alleged syndicate involved in government procurement of overpriced pandemic supplies.

During a media interview Thursday (September 9), Lacson also emphasized that he won’t be cowed by President Rodrigo Duterte’s warnings to senators pursuing the case.

“Anong statement sa Malacanang? Itigil ng Senado ang investigation. Veiled message yan especially sa allies ng Palasyo na ang pagiimbestiga di dapat ituloy,” Lacson said during the interview.

"Twenty-four republics kami, nobody can impose on anyone among us senators. Walang isang senador pwedeng sabihan. Not even the President can tell the Senate what to do. We will exercise our mandate of oversight," he added.

Lacson is part of the group of Senators investigating the transactions entered into by the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service (DBM-PS) with Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a small firm that only had a paid-up capital of around P625,000 but secured over P8 billion worth of government contracts for the procurement of PPEs.

Earlier, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cited five officials of Pharmally, as well as former economic adviser Michael Yang, for contempt after failing to show up at Senate hearings on the issue. (See also: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee orders arrest of Michael Yang )

Documents, witnesses

During the interview, Lacson also hinted at a possible witness who can shed more light on the issue of Pharmally.

“Apparently, mayroon talagang sindikatong involved and you’ll be surprised. We are working on something that would further open up itong kaso ng Pharmally,” he said.
“We haven’t talked to the person yet, but he already manifested his intention to fully cooperate,” the senator added.

Once this witness testifies before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Lacson said the issue may reveal involvements of officials from other agencies beyond DBM-PS and the Department of Health (DOH).

“In the absence of evidence, we can only speculate. But if we get someone to testify or get sufficient docs to show sino ang kanyang backer, we have gone beyond the realm of speculation. But in the absence of solid evidence... we can only speculate and we can only suspect," he stressed.

‘Syndicate’ inside

DBM-PS

Lacson said he has suggested to Senator Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, to “summon” documents that he hopes can prove a case of “premeditated plunder” inside the DBM-PS.

"I suggested to the chairman of BRC to summon some documents. For example Minutes ng BAC sa PS DBM, di pa nakikita. Records like ITR, other documents necessary to qualify to participate in a bidding. And hindi ko lang naipresent sa last hearing, sa susunod na hearing, establish ko timelines,” he said.

"Ang question, bakit kailangan ang confidential employees sa isang ahensya ng govt na nagprocure? Doon pa lang kita mo na premeditated plunder. There's no such thing in or statutes. It's a phrase coined by FMD. Parang pinlano. Then by March or May pati FDA, [Food and Drug Administration] naglabas ng circular loosening requirements. Instead of requiring mag-submit ng certificate of notification, application, and so forth, naging license to operate na lang Nang makapag-deliver ang Pharmally hinigpitan na naman. Kailangan cert of product registration,” he added.

Tags: #PanfiloLacson, #BureauofBudgetandManagement, #procurement, #Pharmally, #corruption


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