Pharmally Executives Ong, Dargani Released From Pasay Jail

Officials of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Co., which had a controversial deal with the government concerning allegedly overpriced pandemic supplies, were released on Thursday, June 2, after being detained at the Pasay City Jail for almost seven months.

Pharmally officials Mohit Dargani and Linconn Ong were released in the morning from the Pasay jail after personnel of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms served the release order signed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III. The two did not give any statement to the media after their release.

In signing the release order, Sotto expressed belief that the authority of the Senate to detain individuals cited in contempt ends as the 18th Congress adjourned sine die on Wednesday night, June 1.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the rule is a resource person declared in contempt can be detained until he testifies at the next committee hearing.

“Strictly speaking, the Senate can hold them until June 30 when the 18th Congress adjourns. But I am willing to adopt a liberal interpretation that adjournment refers to the adjournment… of the third regular session of the 18th Congress,” he added.

When asked if the release indicated that Ong and Dargani are now completely free unless cases are pursued, Drilon replied, “Yes, a case for plunder can be filed against them.”

Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of the Pharmally officials, appealed to the media to respect the privacy of his clients, who wanted to be reunited with their families after being away from them for several months. He said his clients are ready to face legal charges in court.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon recommended the arrest of the Pharmally officials after being cited for refusing to answer questions from senators during the hearings.

Ong was ordered arrested in September 2021 after he refused to answer the senators’ questions about the alleged overpricing of the face shield and other medical supplies against COVID-19 in the multimillion-peso contract with the government.

The Senate subsequently arrested Dargani, the Pharmally corporate secretary and treasurer, and his sister Twinkle Dargani, the company president. The siblings hid but were caught in November 2021 in Davao City while trying to sneak out of the Philippines.

Ong and Mohit were transferred to Pasay City Jail last Nov. 29, 2021, while Twinkle was freed from Senate detention in January 2022 for humanitarian reasons.

Don Rico Kapunan, another lawyer of the Pharmally officials, said they are willing to cooperate if the 19th Congress will reopen the investigation on the controversial contract be-tween Pharmally and the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management.

Kapunan, however, clarified that their cooperation depends on the assurance of Congress that the constitutional rights of their clients will be respected.

He noted that their clients’ rights were disregarded during the probe of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which later recommended the filing of charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other Pharmally officials, including Dargani and Ong. – With Ralph Edwin Villanueva