Sotto questions Duque's silence amid PhilHealth controversy
Senate President Vicente Sotto III questioned on Monday the silence of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III amid the new corruption issues hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Sotto said the Duque, who also sits as chairman of the PhilHealth Board of Directors, should have commented or at least issued a statement of concern on the claims of corruption hurled against the state insurer.
"He is definitely silent. I don't know, has he issued any statements? Wala (None)? Then it's quite interesting na bakit wala siyang comment (that he has no comment over the issues)," the Senate leader said in an online interview with reporters.
"Nakakapagtataka na ikaw ay on top of the PhilHealth, ikaw ang Secretary of Health, dapat meron kang concern, meron kang statement about the issues of corruption in the PhilHealth itself (It's strange that you are on top of PhilHealth, you are the Secretary of Health, you should have issued a statement about the issues of corruption in the PhilHealth itself)."
"Nakapagtataka na 'di siya nagcocomment (It's strange that he was not commenting on it)," he continued.
The Senate Committee of the Whole has been investigating the alleged "widespread corruption" in the PhilHealth, which included the reportedly overpriced information and communication technology project, the questioned reimbursements to select non-COVID-19 hospitals, and the alleged mismanagement of the state insurer's fund by officials.
The hearing will resume on Tuesday, August 11.
Sotto, who chairs the investigating committee, said Duque is free to participate in the Senate inquiry if he wishes to share his views or shed light on what had transpired in the online meeting-turned-"shouting match" between PhilHealth officials last month.
"Siguro (Maybe) he believes in the saying 'Less talk, less mistake'. Walang sinasabi, eh (He has been quiet)," he said.
"Maganda sana kung basta dumating na lang siya (It would be better if he would just attend). Di naman niya kailangan ng imbitasyon, Secretary of Health siya eh (He does not need an invitation since he is the Secretary of Health)," Sotto said.
Meanwhile, Sotto said he hopes that President Duterte sack not only the executives of PhilHealth, but all those who have been implicated in irregularities in the agency.
Sotto recalled the President's promise to remove government officials who are involved in corruption, even "just a whiff" of it.
"I expect him to relieve some people. Lahat ng na-involve sa anomalya (All those involved in anomalies). Lahat ng mayroong whiff of corruption na nabanggit, whiff lang ah, hindi smoke," he said.
"Nadinig ko sinabi niya eh, just a whiff of corruption ang sabi niya, eh (Because I heard the President, just a whiff of corruption, he said)."
Sotto said firing corrupt officials will bring back the confidence of Congress, as well the public, to put in more funds to the agency which he acknowledged is "very crucial" in the delivery of health care services to the Filipinos.
"Definitely, we will be very careful about the budget...unless we are sure that the money is going to be spent well and it will redound to the benefit of the people. Especially the patients and especially the sick Filipinos, then we will agree ," he maintained.