TWO OFFICIALS from a company under Senate probe for alleged anomalies in pandemic supply contracts were transferred to a regular jail on Monday from Senate custody after repeated failure to provide documents subpoenaed by the Blue Ribbon Committee.  

Linconn Ong and Mohit Dargani, director and corporate secretary of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., respectively, would remain at the Pasay City Jail until they “properly answer questions propounded to them, submit documents required by the committee or otherwise purge themselves of a contempt order imposed against them,” based on the commitment order signed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Senator Richard J. Gordon, Sr., who chairs the committee. 

During the committee session last Friday, Mr. Dargani was granted his request to physically search for boxes holding financial records either in their office or in a warehouse, although he claimed that these may no longer be there since their lease has expired. 

A day after, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Rene C. Samonte recommended the jail transfer order after Mr. Dargani proved ambiguous on the supposed trip.  

“We have not left because he does not want to give information on where to go, he said he does not know where — office, warehouse, or residence. I said we can go to all the three areas, but he refused,” he told Mr. Gordon in a text message in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Pharmally president Twinkle Dargani was ordered to remain under Senate custody due to mental health issues. 

The Senate is investigating Pharmally after it was awarded more than P11 billion worth of contracts by the budget department’s procurement service despite having only P650,000 in paid-up capital. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

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