Lawyer calls out Senate, CA over Pharmally execs’ detention

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio yesterday condemned what he described as the violation of due process by the Senate and Court of Appeals (CA) over the continued detention of two Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executives.

In a Twitter post, Topacio said his clients Linconn Ong and Mohit Dargani are being held in Pasay City Jail without any charges being filed against them.

Ong and Dargani were cited in contempt during a Senate investigation on Pharmally’s alleged overpriced COVID-19 supplies.

“In the heat of the campaign, we seem to have forgotten that my client, Mohit Dargani, has been languishing in jail with no charges, much less a crime committed, but due only to one senator’s pride,” Topacio tweeted.

He said Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson have agreed to release Ong and Dargani from jail since the Senate is in recess and its investigation of the Pharmally mess has concluded

However, Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon, who has jurisdiction on the issue, has not issued a clearance for their release.

Topacio said he filed a petition for habeas corpus with the CA, which he accused of sitting on the appeal. He has filed an administrative case and a motion to inhibit against CA Special Fifth Division Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas.

Bruselas has inhibited himself from the habeas corpus case, which was reraffled to the CA Fourth Division. Associate Justices Ramon Bato Jr., Rafael Antonio Santos and Lorenza Bordios are the division’s members.

Topacio said he hopes the Fourth Division justices “will do what becomes them as judges and take immediate action as the petition involves basic liberties.”