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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH 'grateful' that Duque has been cleared on PhilHealth 'anomalies' --- Vergeire

DOH 'grateful' that Duque has been cleared on PhilHealth 'anomalies' --- Vergeire

Published Sep 16, 2020 02:49 pm

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said that it is "grateful" that Secretary Francisco Duque III has not been included in the list of officials who are recommended to face charges over the alleged irregularities hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire
Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire
(PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa ating Pangulo na nabigyan po ng ganitong trust ang ating Secretary of Health ,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an online forum. 

“We welcome it. We are very grateful and hopefully, from here on, we continue to work and mas panatag po ang ating pagtatrabaho dahil nagkaroon naman tayo ng ganitong welcome development,” she added. 

Vergeire also emphasized that it is not ideal to change leadership at the moment because of the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

“As we always say, mahirap po magpalit ng ating mga liderato kapag nasa gitna po tayo ng ating sitwasyon dito sa pandemic. It is really hard to have this kind of shift kapag tayo ay meron ng ganitong sitwasyon ,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Vergeire assured that they are supporting the ongoing investigations at PhilHealth. 

“Ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, pati si Secretary Duque, has always reiterated that (we) support this kind of move. So kung sakali na mapapatunayan sa proper court of law na talagang may mag issues tayo or gaps ang ating mga officials, yung mga nararapat na sanctions ay dapat ibigay ,” said Vergeire. 

Meanwhile, the legal team of former PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales said that they will “vigourously” defend the latter and will “appropriately” respond to the complaints against their client. 

“Our client is a man of integrity and completely denies any wrongdoing and the criminal charges against him. And he invokes at this time his basic Constitutional right of presumption of innocence,” said Atty. Arnedo Valera, Morales Legal Spokesman, in a statement. 

“As President Duterte has said, he enjoys the presumption of innocence.... Gen. Morales is looking forward to clearing his name,” he added.  

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