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MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte called the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) “mukhang pera” (greedy) Thursday night after the humanitarian organization resumed its COVID-19 testing services following payment from the government of half of its debt of almost P1 billion.
Duterte delivered the jab at a meeting with cabinet members in Malacañang.
During the meeting, Health Secretary Francisco Duque II reported that the suspension of swab testing in the People’s Republic of China resulted in a decrease in reports of COVID-19 nationwide.
“The People’s Republic of China has already received the payment and they have reopened, so they will continue to evaluate the swab samples,” Duque said.
(PRC has already been paid for and is open again to continue checking the swab sample.)
That’s when Duterte commented, “It looks like money.”
The People’s Republic of China temporarily suspended the COVID-19 tests that are attributable to PhilHealth from October 14 due to the debt of the state insurer of more than P930 million.
He has resumed his testing services after PhilHealth made a partial payment of 500 million pesos on his debt.
On Thursday, PhilHealth paid an additional P100 million to the organization.
The People’s Republic of China, led by Senator Richard Gordon, has played a key role in detecting COVID-19 in the country. It has performed more than one million coronavirus tests, representing at least 25% of the total coronavirus tests conducted throughout the Philippines.
JPV
RELATED STORY:
PRC President: PhilHealth must pay the remaining debt of P561-M in 3 days
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