The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended for six months 33 individuals, mostly government officials and employees, linked to the allegedly anomalous purchase of COVID-19 test kits from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation in 2020.
In an order dated March 20, Ombudsman Samuel Martires suspended Overall Deputy Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong, who used to be the procurement group director at the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).
Former PS-DBM chief Lloyd Christopher Lao, PS-DBM director Christine Marie Suntay, Department of Health Assistant Secretary Nestor Santiago Jr., and DOH-Procurement Service director Crispinita Valdez were also suspended.
Lao is no longer connected with the government.
The questioned purchases are the following:
-8,000 units of BGI Real Time Fluorescent RT-PCR kits worth P600 million
-2,000 units of A* Star Fortitude RT-PCR kits worth P688 million
-41,400 units of BGI Real Time Fluorescent RT-PCR kits worth P2.87 billion
During the Senate investigation into the Pharmally mess in 2021, then Senator Francis Pangilinan alleged that the test kits were not only overpriced but also substandard.
“The overwhelming documentary proof shows that respondents’ evidence of guilt is strong. Likewise, the charges against them involve grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. The gravity of these offenses coupled with the seriousness of their participation would warrant [their] removal from the service,” Martires’ order read.
“Indubitably, respondents’ continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against them.”
The PS-DBM said it would implement the suspension order.
For its part, the DOH said it respected the Ombudsman’s decision even as it vouched for the integrity of the concerned officials.
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“These officials have been with the agency for decades, and we continue to recognize their service, sacrifice, and commitment to the Filipino people. While we commit to religiously comply with all procedures, the DOH vouches for the integrity of these officials, who have played significant roles in the country’s COVID-19 response,” the DOH said.
It also said the role of the DOH and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine was limited to providing technical input as end-users in the procurement of commodities for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pharmally reportedly cornered billions of pesos worth of government contracts intended for pandemic response despite having a paid-up capital of only P625,000.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte had repeatedly defended the government’s purchase of medical goods from Pharmally, claiming there was no overpricing and all dealings were legal.
