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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 7) – Despite accusations of massive corruption plaguing the state health insurer, President Rodrigo Duterte advised embattled Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to remain in his post.
In his speech Monday night, Duterte assured Duque, who is also the ex-officio president of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), that he has his confidence.
“Secretary Duque, this is not the time for you to resign… I have heard stories that you are going to resign. I have full confidence in you, ”Duterte said.
The president also told Duque to let the Justice Department-led task force investigation into PhilHealth run its course.
“There is an ongoing investigation, let it be,” Duterte said. “Let’s see what negligence looks like. But you know, if you run a large organization … talagang magne-neligent ka, kasi hindi mo talaga mahahabol minsan (Tell us about the charge of negligence. But you know, if you run a large organization … you will be seen as negligent, because a sometimes you can’t run after them) “.
While thanking Duterte for his comments, Duque took the opportunity to air his complaint regarding the allegations made against him.
“Height of injustice … It hurts me, you don’t even sign, it’s you who is forced to get involved,” said Duque.
[Translation: Height of injustice…It really hurts, when you did not sign on anything, but you are the one being accused.]Earlier, the Senate adopted the Committee of the Whole report on the alleged fraud mess within PhilHealth.
One of his recommendations is that Duque “heed the call” of 14 senators, who recently signed a resolution requesting his resignation due to “lack of leadership, negligence, lack of foresight and efficiency in the performance of his mandate,” which caused a delay in response to addressing COVID-19 and the “perceived tolerance” of alleged corruption at PhilHealth.
Hearings ended tonight
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra said the task force will end its hearings tonight on the alleged corruption at PhilHealth.
“We hope that all of our hearings conclude today, tonight,” Guevarra said. “Starting tonight and the rest of the week, we will be consolidating and analyzing all the information and evidence that we have gathered through seven hearings conducted by the working group since we formed it.”
After the hearings, Guevarra said the working group hopes to present its report and recommendations to Duterte on Monday, September 14 next week.
The attorney general also said that the filing of charges against PhilHealth officials will likely come after the report is filed.
“But the actual presentation [of cases] It will be after the presentation of the report, so it is necessary to make sure that any complaint that we are going to present is supported by competent evidence, ”said Guevarra.
Among the task force’s initial findings was the discovery of “centers of fraud” within the agency.
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