Senators Worried Over Pharmally Exec's Safety

Senators expressed concern yesterday over the safety of Pharmally executive Krizle Mago who has gone incommunicado since giving a damning testimony against her firm during Senate investigative hearings on billions of pesos worth of COVID-19 supply contracts.

- Paolo Romero

“We are concerned for her safety after what she confirmed to us during last Friday’s hearing,” said Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, whose staffcould no longer reach her after offering her protection that night.

“We offered her protection. After attempts to get her exact location so we could send our Senate sergeant-at-arms, she can no longer be reached,” Gordon said.

During the Senate hearing, Mago had confirmed the exposé of Sen. Risa Hontiveros that face shields delivered to the Department of Health (DOH) had tampered certification labels.

Hontiveros had a video-recorded testimony from a former warehouse worker that Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. owners ordered the tampering of certification labels of old and creased face shields last August to make it appear they were manufactured only this year.

The witness, whose identity was not disclosed, said it was Mago who ordered them to tamper with the labels. The witness also said he once saw Mohit Dargani, one of the owners of Pharmally, visit the warehouse.

In confirming the testimony of Hontiveros’ witness, Mago said: “That (order to warehouse workers) is something I cannot deny.”

Yesterday, Hontiveros shared Gordon’s worries and said her office is open to provide Mago help and protection. “I pray that she’s safe and ready to cooperate for the truth as well as the welfare of her fellow workers in health care,” she said.