MANILA – In a sweeping move that could reshape one of the country’s most controversial corruption probes, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered the withdrawal and reassessment of several Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation cases pending before the Sandiganbayan to ensure what he described as a “coherent and unified” prosecution strategy.
The decision covers all Pharmally-related cases that have not yet reached the arraignment stage.
Remulla said the review aims to synchronize the work of multiple investigative teams and strengthen the government’s case over the alleged anomalous pandemic supply contracts during the Duterte administration.
“That’s why I really thought it wiser to withdraw these cases so we could reevaluate — para naman hindi masayang yung naging trabaho ng mga investigators, ng Senado at sa lahat ng na-involve sa paghalukay ng mga kaso ng Pharmally,” Remulla explained.
The Ombudsman emphasized that the Office of the Special Prosecutor was not originally involved in the preparation of the complaints — a gap he now wants to correct.
“The Ombudsman should move as one,” Remulla stressed.
Remulla also confirmed plans to meet former senator Richard Gordon, who led the Senate Blue Ribbon inquiry into Pharmally, to discuss the committee’s findings firsthand.
Asked if former president Rodrigo Duterte might be implicated, he replied: “Pag meron siyang positive acts na ginawa, then we will look at it. Titingnan natin ang evidence.”
He said new respondents could still be added once the reassessment is complete.
The Ombudsman may also consider the draft Senate report, even though it was not formally adopted by the chamber, citing that his office routinely accepts information from external or even anonymous sources.
So far, three batches of Pharmally cases have been filed before the anti-graft court: the first involves P4.16 billion in COVID-19 test kit purchases, originally lodged in the Manila and Malolos Regional Trial Courts before being transferred to the Sandiganbayan.
A second batch was filed last month and assigned to the First Division, while eight new cases were raffled to the Sixth Division on October 10.
Only unarraigned cases will be withdrawn for review, Remulla clarified, while those where defendants have already entered pleas will continue to proceed in court. He assured that the review will not delay the prosecution timeline.
“It is important for the Sandiganbayan to have an immediate grasp of the cases,” Remulla said, emphasizing that the reassessment seeks to strengthen the charges — not restart them./PN
