PhilHealth’s new boss says he’s ‘scared but not intimidated’ by the task

MANILA, Philippines – “I am afraid but I do not flinch.”

Former Director of the National Bureau of Investigation Dante Gierran admitted this Tuesday after being appointed the new head of the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

“I would like to be successful. I was telling you about it and I was telling you all those interviews before you. I’m scared, but they don’t cow me, ”Gierran said in an interview on the ABS-CBN news channel.

Gierran then asked Filipinos to give PhilHealth “a chance” as it tries to restore public trust to the state insurer amid allegations of corruption.

Give PhilHealth a try. My job is to restore the trust, the trust of the people in the government, ”he said.

“I am new, give me the opportunity to lead. Pagbigyan niyo muna ako. Don’t prejudge me from my experience in this and that. Let us see. After all, if I can’t do my job, I’ll tell my director, ”he continued.

Gierran will replace Ricardo Morales, who recently resigned as director of PhilHealth after President Rodrigo Duterte himself asked him to resign due to his intermittent health condition.

Morales’ resignation came immediately after investigations into the alleged corruption within PhilHealth.

Among the allegations of wrongdoing within the state insurer are its allegedly overpriced information technology project and its questionable release of funds under its interim reimbursement mechanism.

Earlier, Duterte’s aide and close confidante, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, said Monday that Duterte will appoint someone with investigative experience and “zero tolerance for corrupt practices at the helm of PhilHealth.”

Malacañang also said last week that the new head of PhilHealth must be incorruptible and must be able to restore the public’s trust in the state insurer.

EDV

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