Sen. Imee Marcos said Sunday she believes there is now evidence that can link Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to a host of irregularities at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) following the Senate’s investigation on the issue of corruption hounding the State health insurer.
Marcos said that contrary to Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s belief there is no direct evidence that could link Duque to such irregularities, she said she believes there are plenty.
“Ako, with all due respect, palagay ko meron na. Kailangan lang tinitignan natin ng maigi. Tignan natin at maganda na nandyan ang DoJ, mas lalong maganda yung CoA ay nariyan para maliwanag at makita natin (I believe there is. We just have to look into it closely. Let’s investigate and its good that the Department of Justice is there, and the Commission on Audit is there to make it clear and for us to see it),” Marcos said in an interview over GMANewsTv.
For one, Marcos said the government task force on PhilHealth anomalies should look into allegations that Duque’s family owns the PhilHealth’s office in the Ilocos region.
“Kasi taga-Ilocos ako, narito ako. Alam na alam namin na yung gusali na dating ospital ng pamilyang Duque, yun ang inarkila mismo nung siya ang nandoon (Because I am from Ilocos. Everyone know that PhilHealth office here used the former hospital owned by the Duque family), she said.
“Tapos nangangalakal talaga yung iba’t iba nilang kumpanya sa medical supply, sa medical equipment. Bakit ganun? Saan ka nakarinig? (Then their family is also engaged with other companies in trading medical supplies, medical equipment. Why is that?)” she pointed out.
Imee said Duque he has become a liability at PhilHealth. But it is still up to the President whether he should fire Duque or not as Department of Health (DoH) chief, she said.