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MANILA, Philippines – The interagency task force created to investigate alleged corruption activities at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has presented its findings to President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a statement Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ), which was tasked with leading the investigation, said its 177-page report has already been submitted to the Office of the President.
The DOJ said the task force received and evaluated the testimony of 14 witnesses; reports and summaries of various cases, whether investigated or for resolution; documents presented by specialists and; reports and recommendations from other bodies, including the Philippine Senate.
“Task Force PhilHealth also held seven hearings, spanning more than 30 hours on various dates. During these hearings, representatives of the agencies participating in the task force posed questions to the specialists whose testimonies were taken under oath, ”said the DOJ.
“Building on all of the above, Task Force PhilHealth presented its initial findings and presented its recommendations to the chair,” he added.
However, the DOJ did not release details about the task force’s recommendations to Duterte.
“While the task force awaits any additional directives from the president, its composite teams will conduct more targeted investigations into specific acts of fraud or corruption committed by healthcare providers and PhilHealth staff alike. Meanwhile, the complaints and pending cases will be resolved by the agencies interested in the dispatch, ”said the DOJ.
Duterte created the task force to investigate PhilHealth officials on corruption allegations that were uncovered during recent Congressional investigations.
Among the complaints of corruption raised are the acquisition of supposedly overvalued computer equipment; an allegedly questionable release of funds under the corporation’s Interim Refund Mechanism (IRM); and the alleged manipulation of the financial status of the corporation.
The Senate Committee of the Whole that conducted its own investigation into the PhilHealth mess has now concluded its investigation and recommended filing cases against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the recently-resigned PhilHealth head Ricardo Morales, as well as several senior officials. for the alleged misuse of funds under the emergency cash advance measure of the state insurance company.
KGA
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