THE Senate blue ribbon committee has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to place former presidential adviser for economic affairs Michael Yang on the Bureau of Immigration watchlist.

In a letter sent to the DOJ, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon asked the agency to inform the panel whenever Yang leaves the country.

In a statement, DOJ secretary Menardo Guevarra said they will grant the Senate's request.

Yang has a standing arrest warrant issued by the Senate on September 10, 2021, due to his “evasive” answers to questions on his links with Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a small company which bagged a P8.68-billion contract with the Procurement Service (PS) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to supply face masks, face shields, coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) test kits and personal protective equipment.

Pharmally owner Huang Tzu Yen admitted that Yang financed the purchase of medical supplies for delivery to the PS.

Pharmally director and supply chain head Linconn Ong said Yang lent them the money for three transactions amounting to P7.279 billion.

Yang failed to attend the resumption of the virtual Senate hearing on Monday, September 13. His legal counsel Raymund Fortun said his blood pressure shot up and he was advised by his doctor to undergo bed rest for five days. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)