Ombudsman Defends Withdrawal and Review of Pharmally Cases, Citing Procedural Concerns

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla reaffirmed his position to withdraw and reexamine the graft cases involving Pharmally at the Sandiganbayan, suggesting that the lawsuits appeared to have been strategically set up to fail.

Speaking at the Stratbase Institute’s Pilipinas Conference 2025 on November 21, Remulla expressed his concerns regarding the rushed filing of the Pharmally cases before he assumed office. He remarked that the cases raised immediate suspicions.

"We withdrew the cases. We're reconfiguring everything now. There was even a case in the Pharmally cases where no damage to government was alleged," Remulla said, highlighting issues related to jurisdictional challenges at the Sandiganbayan, the Philippines' anti-corruption court.

The controversial Pharmally cases involve alleged anomalies amounting to approximately PHP 4 billion. Recently, the Sandiganbayan granted the Ombudsman's motion to withdraw six graft cases linked to the matter.

These cases originated from questionable procurement transactions of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite Pharmally's modest initial capital of PHP 626,000, the company secured government contracts valued at PHP 8.68 billion. Subsequent Senate investigations uncovered evidence indicating the procured equipment was of substandard quality.

Remulla's decision to halt and review the cases has sparked debate over the integrity and direction of the ongoing legal proceedings.