The Department of Health (DOH) is conducting its own probe on the alleged tampering of the manufacturing dates of face shields that were purchased from Pharmally  Pharmaceutical Corporation through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).

The DOH also suspended the receiving of new deliveries of face shields from Pharmally, which is being investigated by the Senate over its questionable P8-billion contract for Covid-19 medical equipment from the PS-DBM.

“The DOH has decided to suspend acceptance and further deliveries of face shields from Pharmally, pending the conclusion of the investigations in the Department,” said Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande, Undersecretary of the Health Regulation Team, in a statement.

“We are aware of the statements made by Pharmally employees about the tampering of the production date on the certificate. Out of prudence and caution, the DOH has decided to suspend the succeeding deliveries to protect the interest and safety of our healthcare workers,” she added.

It was Health Secretary Francisco Duque III who ordered the department to conduct a “comprehensive review” of the department’s with transactions with Pharmally, and the inspection of the Covid-19 medical equipment purchased from the company.

To recall, Pharmally executive Krizle Grace Mago revealed in a Senate inquiry that her company tampered with the expiry dates of government-procured face shields. She is now under the protective custody of the House of Representatives.

The PS-DBM awarded to Pharmally P8 billion in contracts but only had P625,000 in paid-in capital.