Senate frees virus-stricken Pharmally head
FOR humanitarian considerations, Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III approved the release from Senate detention of Twinkle Dargani, president of the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
Sotto said Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee together with Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon have agreed to release Twinkle to her mom, Deepa Dargani, after she tested positive for COVID-19.
Sotto ordered the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms General Rene Samonte to free Twinkle on Monday night.
Twinkle tested positive for the coronavirus disease and was transferred to Philippine General Hospital but returned to the Senate, Sotto said.
The Senate Leader stated that Deepa was worried about Twinkle’s “deteriorating mental health condition”.
“Her mother has promised to present her to the Senate whenever she is needed by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee,” Sotto said.
Currently, the upper chamber is also under lockdown until Sunday, January 16, after at least 46 staff members contracted COVID-19.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Panfilo Lacson, and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan have also tested positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, Gordon proposed that Twinkle be placed under house arrest given her recent infection.
The senator also stressed that Twinkle must stay in her home and in no other place during the continuation of the hearings; she should also be available every time there is a hearing; she undertakes NOT to leave her home while the investigation has not yet been terminated NOR to leave the Philippines; she undertakes to update our Committee of her health condition/s every week; she further undertakes to faithfully comply with any additional conditions that this Committee may deem necessary to ensure her genuine cooperation with the investigation of the Senate.
“All of that said, however, I, in my capacity as Chairman, am not blind to the raging epidemic that has afflicted tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters; neither are we insensitive to the fact that Ms. Dargani has herself tested positive for COVID-19,” Gordon said.
