Michael Yang, who was implicated in the procurement of “overpriced” personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks and shields through the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS), faces arrest after failing to show up even after two subpoenas were issued against him by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has ordered the arrest of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang after failing to show up at Tuesday’s committee hearing on the alleged “overpriced” medical equipment procured by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“So the motion to cite in contempt…it has already been approved. There were no objections and as directed…The process should start to make sure that a warrant of arrest is issued and that the [Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms] be asked to formally serve it to all law enforcement authorities and they be made aware that there is such a warrant of arrest issued by the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, part of the co-equal branch of the government,” Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Richard Gordon said during the hearing.
Yang had been ordered to appear before the committee over the procurement of “overpriced” personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks and shields made by the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) on behalf of the Department of Health in 2020.
Among the suppliers is Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., which bagged government contracts worth over P8.6 billion in 2020 despite being only several months old and having just P625,000 in paid-up capital.
Yang was linked to the controversial procurement after a 2017 video showed him introducing Pharmally officials to President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City.
Aside from Yang, Senator Francis Pangilinan also moved that warrants of arrest be issued to other officials of Pharmally, who skipped the hearing even after they have already been summoned twice.
The blue ribbon moved for the issuance of arrest warrants against the following:
Mr. Mohit Dargani
Ms. Twinkle Dargani
Mr. Justine Garado
Mr. Linconn Ong
Ms. Krizle Grace Mago
Huang Tzu Yen, chairman and president of Pharmally, and the firm’s accountant, Iluminada Sebial.
Tags: #MichaelYang, #SenateBlueRibbonCommittee, #DepartmentofBudgetandManagement, #anomalies, #medicalequipment, #overpricing