AN Immigration lookout bulletin order, which was sought by the Senate, has been issued against eight individuals in connection with the alleged irregularities in the government’s pandemic procurements.

Placed in ILBO by the Department of Justice are Lloyd Christopher Lao, Warren Rex Liong, Twinkle Dargani, Huang Tzy Yen, Krizle Grace Mago, Justine Garad, Linconn Ong, and Mohit Dargani.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang will also be placed under ILBO within the week.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee was conducting a hearing on alleged irregularities in the government’s pandemic procurements.

Over the course of the probe, Yang has been revealed as the alleged financier and guarantor of the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.

Despite the alleged anomalies, President Duterte continues to absolve Yang – an old friend and his former economic adviser – from any wrongdoing.

He criticized senators conducting the probe into Pharmally and insisted that there was nothing anomalous in the deals.

In testimony on Friday, two Pharmally executives said Yang personally loaned money to help the trading firm pay Chinese companies for medical supplies ordered by the Philippine government—belying Yang’s claim that he only introduced a Pharmally director to his friends among suppliers in China and had no role in the transactions.

Pharmally was awarded over P8 billion worth of COVID-19 contracts in 2020 even if the small firm lacked the track record and credibility to engage in big ticket government procurement. In 2021, it got contracts worth P2.3 billion.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas