Ombudsman presses P11-B Pharmally plunder case But 23 respondents missing— Remulla

MANILA — Nearly half of the 46 individuals implicated in the P11-billion Pharmally pandemic procurement scandal have become unreachable, complicating the Office of the Ombudsman’s efforts to pursue plunder allegations arising from controversial government purchases of COVID-19 medical supplies.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that 23 respondents, including key Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation executives and businessman Michael Yang, a former economic adviser to ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, could no longer be located at their registered or previously known addresses.

The development raises concerns over possible attempts to evade legal proceedings in one of the country’s major pandemic-era procurement controversies, which involved billions of pesos in government contracts for personal protective equipment, coronavirus testing kits and other medical supplies.

“The Pharmally case… there are 46 respondents [in our complaint], kaya medyo matagal. And many of them have become invisible. Para bang they’re trying to evade the jurisdiction of this body,” Remulla said.

The Ombudsman chief said repeated attempts to locate the missing respondents had failed, posing an additional challenge to the handling of the plunder complaint.

“So, ito ‘yung mga pangalan, they cannot be located in their known addresses. And all the attempts to find them have failed,” Remulla added.

Among those reportedly unlocated are Pharmally chairman Huang Tzu Yen, company president Twinkie Dargani, corporate secretary and treasurer Mohit Dargani, director Linconn Uy Ong, former regulatory affairs head Krizle Grace Mago, financial manager Lin Wei Xiong and biological officer Rose Nono Lin.

Yang, also known as Yang Hong Ming, was likewise included in the list. Authorities previously identified him as a financier of Pharmally.

His brother, Yang Hong Jiang, also known as Tany Yang, was similarly named, along with Pai Li Holdings directors Jayson Uson and Yuqin Zheng.

Other respondents whose whereabouts reportedly remain unknown include Pharmally director Justine Garado, former Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) personnel Mervin Ian Tanquintic, Alvin Fernandez, Gilbert Recluta, Orly Delos Reyes, Nelson Taguik and Gerald Cruz.

Also on the list are Adriano I. Po Jr., Ma. Joycelynn Lee Rodriguez, Mark Augustine Lee Rodriguez, Michael Angelo Santos Rodriguez and Mikhail Francesco Lee Rodriguez.

Former PS-DBM chief Lloyd Christopher Lao is another prominent respondent in the plunder complaint, which centers on alleged irregularities in the government’s procurement transactions during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Lao previously faced separate proceedings before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division involving the alleged purchase of P4.4 billion worth of medical supplies from Pharmally.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges in that case in August 2025./PN