Thread by @lianbuan

NOW: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes hearings into pandemic procurement anomalies, particularly favored contractor Pharmally Pharmaceuticals. A committee preliminary report is expected. @rapplerdotcom

Senator Richard Gordon: The anomalies could not have happened without the imprimatur of the executive department from beginning to end.

Dr @DrTonyLeachon: If proven, this is the worst corruption in the history of the Philippines.

Leachon said doctors have a history of joining protests, more so now in the middle of pandemic. They say doctors speak up because they are no longer fearful, "wala na po ang takot at pangamba, wala nang natira kundi galit na napalitan ng pag-asa. Hindi na po kami nag-iisa."

Dr Dante Morales: Kung ano man po ang makalap na ebidensya ay sana madala na ito sa DOJ, sa Office of the Ombudsman, yun po ang aming call to action.

Tax expert Mon Abrea said that based only on audited financial statements of Pharmally, the government can collect P2 billion in taxes, but source documents need to be seen to make sure. Gordon said they'll pursue getting those documents.

Abrea said Tiger Marketing, Pharmally's suppliers, underdeclared around 30% of its sales covering its supplies to Pharmally. Abrea is basing on Tiger's financial statement. Abrea said this may be ground for tax evasion.

Abrea said BIR can answer a lot of questions, but tax chief Caesar Dulay is not in the Zoom following Duterte's order to Cabinet members to snub the hearings. Gordon said he knows Dulay wants to attend, but cannot because of Duterte.

Senator Ping Lacson said Customs has not replied to his queries sent in writing, asks: Did President Duterte's memo also include Cabinet members ignoring letters?

Ilimunada Sebial, auditor who prepared Pharmally's financial statements, said she didn't see the documents but was just asked to check the statements. Mon Abrea, her fellow CPA, appeals to her: You were exposed for just P4,000 nakakalungkot para sa ating propesyon.

Abrea talks directly to Sebial: Pareho po tayong CPA, 'yung propesyon natin maisalba naman po natin, pag may korapsyon lagi na lang may CPA na kasabwat.

Sebial admits she never saw source documents, invoices, etc, but just a list she was made to check.

There is another accountant that Senate hasn't talked to yet – Jeff Mariano, who Sebial said might have access to the source documents. But Senate cannot locate him, asked for NBI's help but hasn't gotten it.

Gordon: Are we not getting government's help?

Drilon, Lacson and Gordon are grilling Chinese company Xuzhou Construction which has been supplying medical equipments to PS DBM since 2020 worth total P1.8 billion so far, but did not pay income tax here.

Gordon: This is an example of how our investigation is being hampered by the president's stupid order to Cabinet officials

Xuzhou Construction says though it paid 12% VAT but through PS-DBM. PS-DBM deducted it, said Xuzhou Construction. Senators find this "incredulous," but it cannot clarify since there are no PS-DBM and BIR representatives here, still pursuant to Duterte's snub order.

Gordon suspends the hearing, to resume Thursday 11am.