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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Filipinos don't deserve a state health insurance that is so corrupt - Lacson

Filipinos don't deserve a state health insurance that is so corrupt - Lacson

Published Aug 19, 2020 12:08 pm

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, vice chairman of the Senate Committee of the Whole, said that Filipinos do not deserve a state health insurance that is so corrupt despite the trust and confidence given to it by President Duterte.

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Lacson said corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is made possible by officials entrusted with mandatory monthly deductions from hard-earned salaries of ordinary employees.

Fourteen senators have signed a resolution asking Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, concurrent ex-officio board chairman of PhilHealth, to resign his post as DOH secretary for his weak leadership that has led to the failure to contain the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

But every time there is a call for Duque to consider leaving the DOH, President Duterte would come out to reiterate his trust and confidence in Duque.

Duque was tagged as ‘’godfather’’ at PhilHealth by Thorrsson Montes Keith, resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud officer. He shrugged off Keith’s description of him as ‘’godfather.’’

The Senate conducted yesterday its third in-person and virtual public hearing on the alleged widespread corruption at PhilHealth.

Senator Grace Poe pointed out that Duque sat for 11 years as PhilHealth president and as chairman of the PhilHealth board.

Lacson pointed out that Duque was PhilHealth president in 2004 when P500 million in Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds were illegally used to buy PhilHealth cards bearing the picture of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) with the acronym GMA (Greater Medical Access) and ‘’GMA Para sa Masa, Para sa Lahat.’’ (GMA for the poor, for all.)

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