The Office of the Ombudsman has lodged an ₱11‑billion plunder complaint against 46 individuals linked to Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and government procurement officials, citing alleged irregularities in the purchase of medical supplies during the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed the filing, expressing concern that many respondents “have become invisible” and appear to be evading jurisdiction.
He revealed that 23 of those charged could not be located at their registered addresses, including Pharmally chairman Huang Tzu Yen, president Twinkie Dargani, corporate secretary Mohit Dargani, and other executives tied to the company’s operations.
Named respondents also include Lloyd Christopher Lao, former head of the Procurement Service–Department of Budget and Management (PS‑DBM), and businessman Michael Yang, who previously served as an economic adviser to former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Yang and several associates were identified as financiers and directors connected to Pharmally and its affiliates.
The complaint builds on earlier proceedings: in August 2025, Lao entered a not‑guilty plea before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division in a related case involving ₱4.1‑billion worth of medical supplies procured from Pharmally.
Remulla underscored the gravity of the allegations, noting that the scale of the transactions and the number of respondents reflect systemic lapses in accountability during the pandemic response. The Ombudsman’s office said efforts to track down missing respondents are ongoing. # (ZIA LUNA)
