Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is investigating possible tax fraud by Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which is now controversial due to the snatching of billions worth of allegedly anomalous government contracts.
Drilon said there are many notable ones in its financial statement where it does not seem to be paying the right taxes.
There are also reports that Pharmally does not have tax clearance from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which is important to participate in government bidding.
Drilon told TeleRadyo that the company is not exempted from income tax and VAT, especially since its contract is worth more than P10 billion and has a large income of P7.4 billion.
Drilon also questioned Pharmally’s purchase of face masks and face shields sold to the government.
“Puwede na bumili diretso sa manufacturer ang gobyerno, bakit dumaan pa dito sa third party? In fact, just with the same point, during our hearing, may mga nagrereklamo na agent kung bakit hindi sila nakakabenta ng bakuna sa gobyerno. Ang sabi ni vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, ayaw namin makipag-usap sa inyo kasi ahente ka, ang gusto namin kausapin ‘yung gumagawa mismo ng bakuna. Kung ganoon pang policy, bakit dito, hindi dumiretso sa manufacturer? Bakit dumaan sa Pharmally Pharmaceuticals?” said Drilon.
On Tuesday, the Senate will resume hearing on alleged overpriced medical supplies purchased by the government from Pharmally.
Senator wants probe on Pharmally’s possible tax fraud
Drilon assured that they would not stop until the truth is revealed.
It will be recalled that Sen. Risa Hontiveros said earlier that some of the people behind Pharmally are all fugitives in Taiwan.
“Why is this government transacting with fugitives? Bakit tayo nakikipagnegosyo sa mga taong may warrant of arrest pa nga sa ibang bansa?” Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked.
The lawmaker said that if former Budget undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao had only researched about Pharmally, it could be seen on the website of the Ministry of Justice-Investigation Bureau of Taiwan that Huang Wen Lie or Tony Huang, chairman of Pharmally International Holdings, was wanted there, allegedly for fraud, manipulation of stocks, and piracy.
Lie’s son Huang Tzu Yen, an incorporator or stockholder of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp and Pharmally Biological Inc, was also wanted for stock manipulation.
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