Push Admin

Ombudsman: No evidence that Duterte was involved in Pharmally mess

Article (news)

RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Samuel Martires is sworn in as Supreme Court associate justice by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8, 2017. Martires was then named Ombudsman on Aug. 8, 2018. Malacañang Photo/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/15/20170308-martires-mnib-2.jpg"/><figcaption>Samuel Martires is sworn in as Supreme Court associate justice by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8, 2017. Martires was then named Ombudsman on Aug. 8, 2018. Malacañang Photo/File</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman did not indict former President Rodrigo Duterte over the anomalous purchase of COVID-19 test kits from Pharmally because there was no evidence linking him to it.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/24/23/ombudsman-oks-graft-charges-over-pharmally-mess">Ombudsman OKs graft raps vs ex-PS-DBM officials over Pharmally mess</a></li></ul>Duterte&#x27;s former economic adviser Michael Yang was not indicted either because of insufficiency of evidence, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said.&quot;There is again no evidence on record that the former President is involved in the purchase of the test kits,&quot; Martires told the House Appropriations Committee on Monday.&quot;On the matter of Michael Yang, there is no concrete proof or evidence that Michael Yang is also involved in the supply of the test kits... The evidence are insufficient to indict Michael Yang and no evidence in so far as the former president is concerned,&quot; Martires also said.Although charges have been recommended against some personalities linked to the Pharmally mess, nobody has been charged with plunder.&quot;[P]er the decision of the Supreme Court in the Macapagal-Arroyo case, where the ponente is now executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, they said that the plundered must be identified,&quot; Martires said.&quot;In this case, the plundered is not identified.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/29/23/duterte-not-involved-in-pharmally-scandal-ombudsman">Ombudsman stands by decision not to recommend charges vs Duterte in Pharmally scandal</a></li></ul>The Ombudsman recently recommended filing graft charges against three former officials of the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) over their involvement in a controversial COVID-19 test kits contract with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.In a resolution dated Aug. 14, the Ombudsman&#x27;s office found that former PS-DBM executive director Lloyd Christopher Lao, former procurement group director Warren Rex Liong, and former procurement management officer Paul Jasper De Guzman had caused undue injury to the government worth P4.165 billion.The Ombudsman also recommended the filing of graft charges against Pharmally executives Twinkle Dargani, Mohit Dargani, Linconn Ong, Justine Garado, and Huang Tzu Yen.Martires however said his office is not yet done with Pharmally.&quot;There are two more issues or cases undergoing investigation in the Office of the Ombudsman and soon that will be completed,&quot; Martires said.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires also explained why nobody has been sued for plunder over the Pharmally mess.

Ombudsman: No evidence that Duterte was involved in Pharmally mess

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Ombudsman: No evidence that Duterte was involved in Pharmally mess

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 11, 2023 03:04 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

2024 budget

budget hearing

NEP

budget

Pharmally

Ombudsman

Samuel Martires

Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.