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MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday called the Senate’s recommendation to file a case against him in connection with the disorderly funding of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) “unfortunate.” , insisting that he was not involved in the anomaly.
Duque reiterated that he was not present when PhilHealth officials signed a resolution authorizing the release of funds from the interim reimbursement mechanism (MRI) to hospitals, even if they are not treating COVID-19 patients.
The PhilHealth IRM became controversial when it was revealed in a Senate hearing that healthcare institutions not listed as COVID-19 facilities, such as maternity and dialysis clinics, received funds earmarked for the government’s pandemic response.
Earlier, a Senate panel lobbied for the indictment against Duque and former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales.
READ: Senate panel wants Duque, Morales and other executives to be sued over PhilHealth funding disaster
“As president without the right to vote under the Universal Health Care Law, it is regrettable that I was implemented in the alleged IRM irregularities when I was not even present during the deliberation or signed the Board Resolution,” Duque said in a statement.
Duque, who has also been criticized for the government’s alleged negligible response to COVID-19, told the Senate panel that this was not the right time for such a move.
“This is not the best time for the Executive to have a difference with the Legislature, but two weeks ago I went to the Senate to shed light on the issues based on my personal knowledge,” said Duque.
“As I have stated previously, I will cooperate with any investigation into the matter by interested government agencies. I certainly intend to clear my name, ”he added.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said in a speech during Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole hearing that several senior officials, in addition to Duque and Morales, should also be charged with beginning to reform the corruption-plagued agency.
“Any reform in the staff and your organization cannot come from your ranks when everyone has been tainted with suspicion, through active participation or inaction, in the conspiracy to ruin PhilHealth of its funds and resources,” Sotto said.
This was a shift in the Senate’s approach, especially since Senator Panfilo Lacson, who has been critical of Duque’s actions, said weeks ago that there was still no evidence to justify filing cases against the embattled Health Secretary.
Problems within PhilHealth arose when anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith resigned on July 23 due to widespread corruption within the agency. Keith said members of a “mob” within PhilHealth had already pocketed more than P15 billion in funding.
It was also revealed that PhilHealth purchased various items, such as software and devices, at a greatly overpriced cost; for example, an Adobe Master Collection set priced less than P200,000 was labeled at P21 million.
Duque was included in the issue as several senators believe that the former should be included in any investigation given his vast experience with the health agency.
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