MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has lodged an ₱11-billion plunder complaint against 46 individuals, incorporating key figures from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, in connection with controversial pandemic-era purchases of medical gear, COVID-19 test kits, and assorted supplies.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla formally disclosed the filing on Friday, October 16.
Addressing the extensive scope of the inquiry, Remulla explained that the large roster of defendants contributed to the investigation’s extended timeline. Furthermore, he noted that a significant portion of the accused individuals have seemingly gone off the grid.
”The Pharmally case… there are 46 respondents [in our complaint], kaya medyo matagal. And many of them have become invisible. Para bang they’re trying to evade the jurisdiction of this body,” Remulla said.
The list of respondents features high-profile personalities, including former Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) head Lloyd Christopher Lao and businessman Michael Yang, who previously held the position of economic adviser under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Back in August 2025, Lao entered a not-guilty plea before the Sandiganbayan 5th Division regarding separate charges tied to an alleged irregular ₱4.4-billion procurement of medical goods from Pharmally during the peak of the health crisis.
According to the Ombudsman, authorities have hit a roadblock in tracking down roughly half of the accused, with 23 out of the 46 respondents currently untraceable.
”So, ito ‘yung mga pangalan, they cannot be located in their known addresses. And all the attempts to find them have failed,” Remulla added, referring to the unlocated individuals.
The missing respondents include Pharmally chairman Huang Tzu Yen, president Twinkie Dargani, corporate secretary and treasurer Mohit Dargani, director Linconn Uy Ong, regulatory affairs head Krizle Grace Mago, financial manager Lin Wei Xiong, and biological officer Rose Nono Lin. Also among those who cannot be found are Yang Hong Ming (Michael Yang), his brother and Pai Li Holdings director Yang Hong Jiang (Tany Yang), Pai Li Holdings and Pai Hong Realty directors Jayson Uson and Yuqin Zheng, alongside Pharmally director Justine Garado.
Other unlocated individuals are former PS-DBM personnel Mervin Ian Tanquintic, Alvin Fernandez, Gilbert Recluta, Orly Delos Reyes, and Nelson Taguik, as well as Gerald Cruz, Adriano I. Po Jr., Ma. Joycelynn Lee Rodriguez, Mark Augustine Lee Rodriguez, Michael Angelo Santos Rodriguez, and Mikhail Francesco Lee Rodriguez.