By Jose Oscar Magpusao
Senator Risa Hontiveros lambasted the government for their decision to transact with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, sharing scathing information on the business practices of the company’s executives during her press conference on Wednesday.
Hontiveros presented news clippings and screenshots from Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice website detailing how executives from Pharmally have been wanted by the Taiwanese government for numerous alleged financial crimes as far back as December 29, 2020.
Taiwan’s investigation bureau website revealed that: Huang Wen Lie, who sits as chairman of Pharmally International Holding Company and wanted for securities fraud, embezzlement and stock manipulation; his son Huang Tzu Yen, the co-owner of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, the company responsible for acquiring the biggest contracts for PPEs and face shields from the Duterte administration, is wanted for stock manipulation; and Zheng Bingqiang, a business associate of former economic adviser to the president, Michael Yang, is wanted for his alleged involvement in Huang Wen Lie’s alleged stock manipulation scheme.
“Why is this government transacting with fugitives? Bakit tayo nakikipag negosyo sa mga taong may warrant of arrest pa nga sa ibang bansa?” Hontiveros said.
“Bakit hindi ito naamoy man lang ng ating mga otoridad? Publicly available ang mga impormasyong ito,” she added.
Hontiveros then questioned why the purchase orders between Pharmally and the Philippine government continued, with the most recent one being for July 2021, despite the readily available information regarding the suspicious nature of these individuals.
“Kaya nang sumagot si dating Usec. Chris Lao na hindi daw nila ginawa ang kanilang ‘due diligence’ nakakadismaya. Kaunting Google lang ay mayroon namang makikitang kalinawan na ang mag-amang Huang Wen Lie at Huang Tzu Yen ay parehong tinatakasan ang batas,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros then mentioned that Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang doubled as Chairman for the Philippine version of Zheng Bingqiang’s company, Fu Desheng Group (Full Win).
“So si Michael Yang pala, na pinapakinggan diumano ni presidente pagdating sa mga desisyong dapat ay magbabangon sa ating ekonomiya, ay kasabwat ng isang taong tinutugis ng mga otoridad sa ibang bansa,” she said.
She also added that Zheng Bingquang, who is wanted for stock manipulation with a warrant of arrest to prove the same, was specifically manipulating the stocks of Pharmally International Holdings.
“Gaano kalalim ba ang ugnayan ni Michael Yang at nitong si Zheng Bingqiang?” she asked.
Hontiveros also detailed information about President Rodrigo Duterte’s initial introduction to Yang and Zheng Bingqiang and his subsequent tour of the company as far back as 2015, citing a Taiwanese article published in 2016.
“Ito ba ang dahilan kung bakit kahapon, hindi napigilan ni Presidente na ipinagtanggol ang businessman na si Michael Yang?” she said.
“Naniniwala akong singaw pa lamang itong mga naaamoy natin ngayon. Malaking isyu ang overpriced PPEs, pero may nabubuong mas mabahong kwento sa likod ng lahat ng ito,” she added.
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