Senate releases Pharmally exec for humanitarian reasons

MANILA, Philippines — Twinkle Dargani, one of the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executives detained by the Senate, was released yesterday on humanitarian reasons after she contracted COVID-19.

Dargani’s mother promised to present her to the Senate whenever she is needed in the investigation into the alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in the Duterte administration’s procurement of COVID-19 supplies.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III ordered Dargani’s release after getting the concurrence of Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, and leaders of the majority and minority blocs of the chamber.

Dargani tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday but her symptoms were mild, according to Senate sergeant-at-arms Rene Samonte.

Photos provided by Sotto’s office showed Dargani being escorted by the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and Senate medical personnel.

Dargani’s mother, Deepa, has expressed concern over her deteriorating mental health condition, Sotto said.

Dargani has been detained at the Senate after she and her brother Mohit along with Linconn Ong, both executives of Pharmally, were cited in contempt for refusing to cooperate in the probe into the P11-billion pandemic contracts that the firm bagged from the government.

Mohit and Ong are detained at the Pasay City jail.