The task force investigating irregularities at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has submitted to President Duterte its report on the probe conducted on the state health insurer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Monday night, Sept. 14.
The DOJ said that Task Force PhilHealth “rendered its initial findings and submitted its recommendations to the President” through a 177-page report attached with voluminous annexes that was submitted Monday afternoon.
“As the Task Force awaits any further directives from the President, its composite teams will pursue targeted investigations of specific acts of fraud or corruption committed by health providers and PhilHealth personnel alike,” the department assured.
“Meanwhile, already pending complaints and cases shall be resolved by the agencies concerned with dispatch,” it added.
During the conduct of its investigation, the DOJ said the task force received and evaluated the testimonies of 14 witnesses.
“Task Force PhilHealth also conducted seven hearings spanning over 30 hours on various dates,” the DOJ disclosed.
“During these hearings, representatives from the participating agencies of the Task Force propounded questions to resource persons whose testimonies were taken under oath,” it said.
Aside from the hearings, the task force also received reports and summaries of various cases, whether under investigation or for resolution; documents submitted by resource persons; and reports and investigations made by other bodies including the Senate.
The task force was created by the DOJ on Aug. 7 pursuant to the directive of the President to investigate PhilHealth over alleged corrupt activities.
Aside from the DOJ, the task force is composed of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the National Prosecution Service (NPS), the DOJ Office of Cybercrime (OOC), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
“The independent constitutional bodies, namely, the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), the Commission on Audit (COA), and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), were likewise invited to attend the meetings of the Task Force in pursuit of their respective independent investigations or audits,” the DOJ noted.