Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to expand the scope of the investigation conducted by Task Force - PhilHealth to include other national agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) following allegations of mismanagement and corruption.
“Sabi ko nga kay Pangulong Duterte, huwag nating limitahan ‘yung task force po sa PhilHealth. Kung saka-sakali pong kakailanganin ay ibang ahensya naman po ang gawan natin ng task force para mapabilis at makasuhan at pwedeng mai-tap o pakiusapan ang at ang at na magsuspinde, mag-lifestyle check, mag-audit, mag-imbestiga, makasuhan at makulong ang dapat makulong,’’ Gp said. (I said to President Duterte, let’s not limit the task force to PhilHealth. If necessary, let us also create another task force for other agencies to expedite the filing of charges. We will also appeal to the and the and to suspend, conduct lifestyle check, to audit, investigate, file charges and jail those to be proven guilty.).
Last September 14, the multi-agency task force, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), submitted its initial report to the Office of the President where it recommended that criminal and administrative charges be filed against some senior officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
“Hindi lang po ‘yon, dapat po ma-lifestyle check rin po itong mga nauulat na korapsyon sa gobyerno para matingnan po kung saan nila kinukuha ang kanilang pera…. Dapat silipin ‘yan, kasuhan, preventive suspension para hindi po makagalaw, pilayan kaagad para hindi maka-impluwensya sa opisina nila at hindi matago ‘yung mga ebidensya, at kasuhan po,’’ he added. (That is not enough, they should go under lifestyle check to determine where they got their money…We should look into that, charges have to be filed and put them under preventive suspension so they could no longer move, cripple them immediately so they cannot influence their office and cannot hide the evidence.)
When asked about accusations against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Go reiterated that the President continues to have faith in him.
“Desisyon po iyun ng ating Pangulo ay respetuhin na lang po natin sa ngayon. Kung ang Pangulo na po ang walang tiwala ay ibang usapan na po. Habang nandidiyan po ang tiwala ng Pangulo sa kanya ay respetuhin na lang po natin si Pangulong Duterte sa bagay na ‘yan,’’ he pointed out. (That is the prerogative of our President and we should respect that for now. If the President no longer trust him, that is another issue. While the President continues to have faith in him, we have to respect the decision of President Duterte.)
Go, however, clarified that the investigation would still continue in order to find more evidence against other individuals involved in corruption.
Go went on to disclose that they had also discussed the need to review existing laws to increase the penalties for crimes related to corruption and illegal drugs, when leaders of Congress met with the President last Wednesday, September 16.
“We need harsher penalties to serve as more effective deterrent to crimes. While we consistently avoid harsher penalties to uphold human rights, we also need to protect the rights of every Filipino to live a life that is free from fear of corruption, criminality and illegal drugs,” Go stressed in an interview.
Senate and House of Representatives leaders in attendance expressed their agreement with the President’s recommendation to further exercise the oversight function of the legislative branch in order to better aid the Duterte administration in its campaign against corruption.
“Duterte, himself, is also very willing to participate in legislative hearings when necessary to help institutionalize reforms in government,” he explained.
When asked about death penalty, Go admitted that it was not discussed during the meeting.
However, he reiterated his support for its reimposition for criminals who commit heinous crimes involving plunder and dangerous drugs.
Go disclosed that the President is also open to the possibility of abolishing or privatizing PhilHealth if systemic corruption in the agency is not resolved.
Go earlier issued a challenge to new PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran to immediately cleanse the ranks of the agency of corruption while ensuring it continues to provide the best services possible to the Filipino people.
He warned that should the PhilHealth leadership fail in its efforts to crack down on corruption, he would support an organizational overhaul of the agency or even its abolition if necessary, as mentioned by the President.
Go, however, said that he remains primarily committed to pushing for the implementation of the major reforms to the health care system introduced under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. The act, signed into law on February 2019, automatically enrolls all Filipinos into PhilHealth’s National Health Insurance Program.
The law also guarantees them access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care for medical, dental, mental and emergency health services while providing them protection from high out-of-pocket financial burdens.
“I have reminded time and again that we need to ensure the proper implementation of the Universal Health Care Act. Napaka-importante po niyan at lalo na sa kinakaharap nating krisis ngayon,’’ he added. (That is very important especially now we are in a crisis.)