The Philippine Senate did what has to be done in fighting the COVID 19 pandemic and corruption in public service but government just did not do its part in addressing these issues.
In a radio interview, Partido Reporma chairman and standard bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson lamented that his exposes on various anomalies in government agencies failed to get the much needed response from government.
Lacson said in the Radyo Bombo interview that the country “has not received what it rightfully deserves owing to the shortcomings of those who should execute the laws of the land.” Because of this healthcare workers, drivers and operators of public utility vehicles, farmers and fishermen are among the most distressed Filipinos as the coronavirus crisis in the country is entering its third year, the veteran law enforcers and long-time senator said.
Lacson cited as an example how the Senate passed the Universal Healthcare Act measure that was signed into law in 2018, yet it has not been fully implemented owing to a lack of funding for it.
Even with the supposed budget lack of the agencies tasked to implement the UHCA, the former national police chief was dismayed to find corruption among their officials.
“Ang nangyari—‘di ba, ‘nung nag-imbestiga kami noong 2019-2020—ang nangyari noon natuklasan namin P14-bilyon ang nawaldas ng PhilHealth.
(What happened was – didn’t we investigate (the agencies) from 2019 to 2020 – what happened then was we discovered that PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) was wasting P14-billion (to corruption),” he said.
Following their probe, the Senate gave all of its findings and information to the Department of Justice, so the Ombudsman could file graft charges against the corrupt officials involved.
“ kasamaang-palad hanggang ngayon naka-pending ‘yung mga kaso, hindi pa umaangat sa Sandiganbayan. Ito ‘yung mga dating matataas na opisyal ng PhilHealth na ngayon nasasakdal. Napakabagal ng takbo ng ating hustisya. (Unfortunately, until now these cases are pending, they haven’t been elevated to the Sandiganbayan. These are the former top officials of PhilHealth that are being charged. Our justice system is just so slow.),” the senator lamented.
This was also the three-term senator’s message to the critics, who say the Senate’s efforts were not being felt by Filipinos, even if they have served long years as lawmakers.
Lacson vowed that once he gains the country’s mandate as the next President following the May 9 national elections, he can ensure all the laws they crafted in the Senate will see fruition, so the government can finally serve Filipinos the way they deserve to be.