Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday considered the Pharmally scandal the most high-profile backlog of his office.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte and his aides at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic faced accusations of corruption in connection with the alleged overpriced medical supplies provided by the small firm Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.
Remulla told ANC that the Pharmally corruption scandal was a "major" backlog.
"It’s major… because the impunity didn’t stop after that. I think that Pharmally was a symbol of impunity that people are not afraid to get caught," he said.
Pharmally bagged P8.68-billion worth of contracts with the Department of Budget and Management despite having a paid-up capital of only P625,000 in 2019.
The Duterte administration maintained that the deals were aboveboard.
Remulla last week ordered the withdrawal of Pharmally-related cases that have yet to undergo arraignment from the Sandiganbayan for reassessment.
He said he wanted to reevaluate the cases to make sure they are ready for trial once refiled before the anti-graft court.
