THE Court of Appeals has dismissed a petition for habeas corpus of Pharmally Pharmaceutical executive Twinkle Dargani for being moot and academic.
The CA’s Fifth Special Division said no further action is needed on Dargani’s plea as she has been released from Senate detention on January 11.
“Thus, with the release of petitioner Twinkle Dargani from detention, her petition for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus should be dismissed for having become moot and academic,” the resolution signed by the division’s chair, Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas Jr., and Associate Justices Bonifacio Pascua and Filomena Singh.
But the appellate court remained silent on a similar plea filed by Dargani’s brother, Mohit, who is her co-petitioner in the case.
Mohit who is also an official of Pharmally, and another of the company’s executive, Linconn Ong, have been detained at the Pasay City Jail since November 2021 after they were cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee for their evasive answers during the investigation on the alleged irregularities surrounding the multi-billion-peso procurement of COVID-19 supplies by the government to Pharmally.
Pharmally was awarded COVID-19 supply contracts despite having a paid-up capital of only P625,000.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio called on the appellate court to order the release of his clients as he assured the justices they will face whatever charges brought against them in court in connection with the allegedly anomalous deals.
Ong has brought the case to the Supreme Court as he challenged the constitutionality of the Senate committee’s order citing him in contempt and ordering his detention at the Pasay City Jail.
The SC has yet to resolve his petition.
