Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s possible inclusion in Pharmally-related cases pending before the Sandiganbayan is being eyed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s predecessor, Samuel Martires, found no probable cause to indict Duterte for graft in connection with the Pharmally procurement scandal.
Remulla on Monday ordered the withdrawal of the complaints for reevaluation.
Asked whether Duterte could be included in the cases to be refiled before the Sandiganbayan, Remulla said, ‘It depends on the facts and evidence. If there is allegation that he has committed violations, then we will look into it.’
Records show that 14 Pharmally cases are pending at various divisions of the anti-graft court.
Eight of these complaints were filed only on Oct. 10 and raffled off to the Sixth Division. Three were filed on Sept. 29 and assigned to the First Division. Another three were refiled in July from the Malolos Regional Trial Court and are now pending before the Fifth Division.
Of these cases, only one is up for trial following the arraignment of former officials of the Procurement Service- Department of Budget and Management and Pharmally executives.
The charges stemmed from the allegedly anomalous procurement of personal protective equipment, test kits and face masks from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. during the COVID pandemic.