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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Corrupt officials at PhilHealth worse than COVID -- Lacson

Corrupt officials at PhilHealth worse than COVID -- Lacson

Published Aug 21, 2020 03:19 pm

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Friday that having corrupt officials at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is worse than dealing with the deadly coronavirus disease.

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

“Corruption in PhilHealth to take advantage of a pandemic is worse than the deadly coronavirus itself because of its evil intent and purpose,” Lascon said in a Twitter post.

“Soul-searching is only for people who have souls,” said Lacson, referring to all the PhilHealth officials who took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic for self-aggrandizement.

“Those soul-less people in Philhealth. What else can we describe them?” the senator said.

Lacson said his message also includes Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who has been criticized for his failure to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senators have questioned Duque for his failure to stop corruption at PhilHealth during the Senate’s inquiry into the various anomalies hounding the State health insurer.

“Yes, even Sec. Duque who didn’t do anything in his capacity as ex-official Chairman of PhilHealth. Billion peso question is why?” Lacson said.

Last Tuesday, Duque apologized to senators as he admitted the lapses the Department of Health (DoH) has committed in the government’s anti-COVID-19 drive.

Majority of the senators have called on Duque to resign as they expressed disappointment in his inefficiency in handling the government’s COVID-19 response.

“I took full responsibility for my decisions and actions. I’m trying my best. There was never a time that I never tried my best but if my best is not enough, I just have to do some more reflection and soul-searching,” Duque said.

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