Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales will cooperate with the Senate’s investigation on the alleged corruption within the agency despite his medical condition, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said on Sunday.
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
According to Go, Morales has already informed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea that he would only finish the Senate hearings before taking a break.
“Pinaabot niya na tatapusin lang niya itong hearing, at talagang meron siyang nararamdaman, at nire-respeto din namin ang tao na may sakit (He informed Malacanang that he will just finish this hearing and he is really feeling something, so we respect the privacy of people who are ill),” said Go, in an interview on GMANews TV.
But as of now, Go said he has no information yet whether Morales will heed his doctor’s advise to take a leave of absence to undergo treatment for lymphoma.
“I’m praying for his speedy recovery…karapatan naman po ni Gen. Morales na mag-leave and I’m confident na tutulong pa rin siya sa imbestigasyon (Gen. Morales has the right to take a leave and I’m confident he will still help in the investigation),” he added.
Go, who chairs the Senate committee on health and demography, said that when he asked Morales if he can fight corruption within PhilHealth, the latter replied yes, as long as the P2-billion IT system project pushes through.
He said Morales is confident that the IT system project, which senators found to be overpriced, can help curb the anomalies and inefficiency hounding PhilHealth.
“I’m confident Gen. Morales will also cooperate with the task force,” said Go, referring to the task force President Duterte has created to investigate the allegations of corrupt practices within the state health insurer.
Despite this issue, Go said what is important is to find out who were really responsible for the irregularities within the agency and they should be prosecuted.
Thus, he said, the Senate should finish its hearings on PhilHealth as soon as possible so the agency could proceed with providing the public the much-needed assistance especially amid a COVID-19 pandemic.
“Malaki po ang inaasahan ng taumbayan sa PhilHealth na sila po ang magdedeliver at tutulong (The people are relying on PhilHealth because they are the ones who can deliver and help provide financial support),” Go said.
The Task Force, meanwhile, should start its own investigation, charge and conduct lifestyle checks on those involved in the alleged anomalies in PhilHealth.
“Kung maaari po isuspindi or even dismiss po and put them in jail. Hindi lang po yung puro imbestigasyon dito. Dapat po ikulong ang dapat ikulong (Those who are involved should be suspended or even dismissed and put to jail. We should not just conduct investigation here. Those who must go to jail should be jailed),” Go stressed.
“Ako naman importante rito ay malaman natin nga kung sino talaga yung may kasalanan po. Di lang alamin, makasuhan. Kami naman, malaki tiwala namin sa Senado, makakatulong ito alamin ang totoo. Mapakinggan ng taombayan ano nangyari (What is important is for us to know who are really the culprits. Not just identify them, but we have to charge them. We are confident that the Senate can do its part in knowing the truth and for the people to know what is happening),” he further said.