Roque keeps out of PhilHealth's coronavirus testing package issue
By Genalyn Kabiling
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he will forward to President Duterte’s special assistant the issue about the latest alleged irregular coronavirus testing package offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.
(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Roque decided to refer the matter to another office since he could not comment due to conflict of interest. Before returning to his old Cabinet post, he filed graft complaints against certain PhilHealth officials. “May conflict of interest na po ako diyan dahil ako mismo nagsampa ng mga kasong kriminal laban sa mga kurakot sa PhilHealth. Hindi na po ako magkokomento. Ang gagawin ko na lang po, ipo-forward ko itong bagong akusasyon sa office po ni Secretary (Melchor) Quitain, iyong Office of the Special Assistant to the President (I have a conflict of interest because I was the one who field criminal case against those corrupt in PhilHealth. I will no longer comment. Instead, I will forward the latest accusations to the office of Secretary Quitain, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President),” he said during a press briefing at the Palace. “Siya 'yung gumawa ng naunang imbestigasyon sa PhilHealth na nagresulta sa pagtanggal ng ilang mga miyembro ng board of directors ng PhilHealth (He conducted the initial investigation that resulted in the removal of the members of the PhilHealth board of directors),” he added. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon had earlier raised concern about the alleged overpriced PhilHealth's COVID-19 testing packages, saying it was a “waste and abuse of taxpayers' money.” Drilon questioned the P8,150 coronavirus test shouldered by PhilHealth compared to the cost of the private sector that ranges between P3,500 and P4,000. He asked PhilHealth to review its testing package. Roque said he would pass the transcript of the Senate proceedings, including the Powerpoint presentation about the PhilHealth issue, to the office of Quitain.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Roque decided to refer the matter to another office since he could not comment due to conflict of interest. Before returning to his old Cabinet post, he filed graft complaints against certain PhilHealth officials. “May conflict of interest na po ako diyan dahil ako mismo nagsampa ng mga kasong kriminal laban sa mga kurakot sa PhilHealth. Hindi na po ako magkokomento. Ang gagawin ko na lang po, ipo-forward ko itong bagong akusasyon sa office po ni Secretary (Melchor) Quitain, iyong Office of the Special Assistant to the President (I have a conflict of interest because I was the one who field criminal case against those corrupt in PhilHealth. I will no longer comment. Instead, I will forward the latest accusations to the office of Secretary Quitain, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President),” he said during a press briefing at the Palace. “Siya 'yung gumawa ng naunang imbestigasyon sa PhilHealth na nagresulta sa pagtanggal ng ilang mga miyembro ng board of directors ng PhilHealth (He conducted the initial investigation that resulted in the removal of the members of the PhilHealth board of directors),” he added. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon had earlier raised concern about the alleged overpriced PhilHealth's COVID-19 testing packages, saying it was a “waste and abuse of taxpayers' money.” Drilon questioned the P8,150 coronavirus test shouldered by PhilHealth compared to the cost of the private sector that ranges between P3,500 and P4,000. He asked PhilHealth to review its testing package. Roque said he would pass the transcript of the Senate proceedings, including the Powerpoint presentation about the PhilHealth issue, to the office of Quitain.