Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday expressed belief that retired National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran is fit to lead and reform the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
“Former NBI Director Gierran's legal and accounting background, his well-known investigative skills, administrative abilities, and fiscal prudence make him fit for the PhilHealth top position, and equip him well to pursue the cleansing process and reformation at PhilHealth to their logical conclusion,” he said.
President Duterte named Gierran PhilHealth president and chief executive officer during his late night public address on Monday.
The retired NBI chief will replace former PhilHealth head Ricardo Morales who tendered his resignation last Aug. 26 amid corruption allegations at the state health insurer.
The President asked Gierran to devote the last remaining two years of the Duterte administration in fighting corruption.
“Maghanap kayo ng mapakulong natin para may maiwan tayo sa kulungan (Look for people we can imprison so we can leave someone behind bars),” Duterte said on Monday.
Gierran, who is both a lawyer and certified public accountant, became NBI director in 2016 and retired from the service on his 65th birthday last Feb. 22.