Philippines: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommendations on Pharmally
- Parliament
- Senate of the Philippines, 18th Congress 1
- Committee
- Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon 1
- Report
- Partial committee report on the Pharmally contracts, 113 pages, released 1 February 2022 1
- Funds moved from DOH to PS-DBM
- P42 billion, as reported by GMA News 1. P41 billion, as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer 2
Limits of this record
This page could not open the committee report on the Senate website. Its number and the full list of signatories are not confirmed. The recommendations below are as reported by Hana Bordey of GMA News on 1 February 2022 and are not numbered as in the report 1.
GMA News reported that a full report would follow after more information was gathered from five more people linked to Pharmally 1. Plenary action on the report was not confirmed by the sources used here.
What the committee recommended
These are the committee's recommendations to prosecutors. They are not findings by a court.
- Plunder under Republic Act 7080, Section 2, against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, former PS-DBM officer-in-charge Lloyd Christopher Lao, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong, and Pharmally executives Linconn Ong, Mohit Dargani, Twinkle Dargani, Krizle Grace Mago and Huang Tzu Yen, and businessman Lin Weixiong 1.
- Graft under Republic Act 3019, Sections 3(e) and 3(g), against the same people and DBM official Dickson Panti 1.
- On President Rodrigo Duterte, the partial report said, as reported by GMA News, that he betrayed the public trust and that charges should be considered after his term ended. This is the committee's view and not a court finding 1.
Responses from those named
Duque said the Department of Health was not involved, arguing that all COVID-19 procurement went through the PS-DBM 1. Raymond Fortun, lawyer for Michael Yang, called the conclusions baseless and said the report was "done not in aid of legislation but solely for reelection" 1. Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer for Linconn Ong, called the panel a "kangaroo" committee 1. Other Pharmally officials had not responded when GMA News published 1.
What happened next
The sources differ on Duque's administrative case. Frances Mangosing reported on 19 September 2024 that the Ombudsman had found Lao and Duque liable for grave misconduct, with perpetual disqualification and forfeiture of retirement benefits 2. Paige Javier reported on 14 October 2024 that the Ombudsman dismissed administrative charges against Duque for mootness 3. The two reports may concern different cases. This page could not confirm which from Ombudsman records.
| Date | Action | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 12 September 2024 | Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant for Lloyd Christopher Lao in a graft case filed by the Ombudsman against Lao and Duque over the P41 billion transfer and a 4% service fee of at least P1.65 billion 2 | Inquirer, Frances Mangosing 2 |
| 18 September 2024 | Lao arrested in Davao City and posted bail of P90,000 2 | Inquirer, Frances Mangosing 2 |
| 30 September 2024 | Ombudsman Samuel Martires signed an order dismissing administrative charges against Duque over the Pharmally matter for mootness. The order was released on 13 October 2024 3 | ABS-CBN, Paige Javier 3 |
| October 2026 | The Office of the Ombudsman filed a P11 billion plunder complaint against 46 people, including Lao and Michael Yang. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said 23 of the 46 cannot be located. The report does not say where it was filed 4 | GMA News, Llanesca T. Panti 4 |
Outcome status as of 22 October 2026
- Graft charges against Lao and Duque: Implemented in part. A graft case is before the Sandiganbayan, as reported in September 2024 2.
- Plunder charges: Pending. The Ombudsman filed a plunder complaint in October 2026. The report used does not say where it was filed or whether it is at the preliminary investigation stage 4. The same report says Lao pleaded not guilty in August 2025 before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division in a separate case over P4.4 billion in medical supplies 4.
- Charges against President Duterte: No public record found as of 22 October 2026.
Common questions
Did the Senate convict anyone over Pharmally?
No. The Blue Ribbon Committee recommended charges 1. Only courts decide guilt.
Who has been charged?
The Ombudsman filed a graft case against Lao and Duque in the Sandiganbayan, as reported in September 2024 2.
How much was Pharmally paid?
About P11.5 billion in contracts, citing the Senate investigation, as reported by the Inquirer 2.
What did the Ombudsman do in 2026?
It filed a P11 billion plunder complaint against 46 people, as reported by Llanesca T. Panti of GMA News 4.
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Sources
- GMA News: Blue Ribbon report on Pharmally deal: Duterte betrayed public trust, as reported by Hana Bordey (1 February 2022)
- Philippine Daily Inquirer: Ex-DBM exec Lao arrested, posts bail in Pharmally case, as reported by Frances Mangosing (19 September 2024)
- ABS-CBN News: Ombudsman dismisses admin charges vs Duque over Pharmally mess for mootness, as reported by Paige Javier (14 October 2024)
- GMA News: Ombudsman files P11-B plunder complaint vs Pharmally execs, others over pandemic purchases, as reported by Llanesca T. Panti (16 October 2026)
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