House panel recommends charges vs Pharmally executives, abolish procurement agency
A HOUSE of Representatives committee has recommended the filing of charges against six Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. officials over pandemic supply contracts and closing down the government procurement agency that made the purchases.
The recommendations were made by the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability based on an investigation into the alleged anomalous contracts for various medical supplies.
“The officials of Pharmally… may be held liable for Syndicated Estafa under Section1 of PD No. 1689 in relation to Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code,”
DIWA Party-list Rep Edgar Y. Aglipay, the committee chair, said in a statement on Monday.
Syndicated estafa, as defined by the Justice department, is committed “when five or more persons group together with the intention of carrying out the unlawful or illegal act, transaction, enterprise or scheme.”
The panel also said while it found “no overpricing” in the purchase by the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) on behalf of the Department of Health, it deems the requirements imposed on suppliers during a national emergency “are extrement deficient.”
The committee called for the “abolition of the PS-DBM in order to streamline government functions and services.” It said the agency has “outlived its purpose” as all government agencies already have their own procurement departments and bids committee.
It also recommended the filing of charges against two PS-DBM officials for alleged falsification of public documents when they signed papers without the required inspection of delivered supplies.
The panel also said there is a need to review and establish standard requirements for assessing the capacity of suppliers.
A committee report will be sent to the Commission on Audit, Department of Justice, and the office of the Ombudsman for appropriate action. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan
