MANILA – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque admitted that corruption still persists at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as he slammed its leadership for alleged failure to go after “crooked” officials.
Roque said during a virtual press conference on Thursday it was disappointing that PhilHealth President and CEO Ramon Morales has yet to identify or resolve the anomaly inside his office.
“Kung maalala nyo, pinalitan ni Presidente ang board of directors noong June. Nilagay po kayo diyan para ayusin ang problema ng korapsyon, ano pong nagawa niyo para ayusin ‘yan?” Roque stressed. “Bakit ni isa wala pa siyang [Morales] nalilitis? Ni isa wala pa siyang natatanggal? Kung hindi niyo po mapapatupad ang batas, siguro po hahanap na lang ng iba na pwedeng magpatupad niyan,” the Palace spokesperson added.
Roque’s comment came after Morales recommended to Congress for a “general delay” in the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law due to low collection of contributions.
Roque, author of the Universal Health Care Law when he was a party-list representative during the 17th Congress, went on to tell Morales that PhilHealth’s lack of funds to implement the Health Care Law was due to the presence of corrupt officials in the agency.
“The UHC law has to be implemented. Kung kailangang suportahan ng gobyerno, susuportahan ito gamit ang kaban ng bayan,” Roque said. “Nagrereklamo siya na walang pera. Natural dahil ang mga buwaya buhay na buhay pa rin diyan sa PhilHealth.”
Morales, in a separate radio interview, has challenge Roque to to file charges if he had proof of corruption in the agency.
“Doon naman sa nawawalang pera na sinasabi ni Atty. Roque, if he has any specific evidence, he should file the case, he should go to the court,” Morales said in an interview with DZMM.
Morales also said that the PhilHealth’s legal team is looking into 10,000 cases involving hospitals and medical professionals accused of false claims and other anomalies.
He also sent “boxes and boxes of files” to government investigators, which resulted in the filing of cases against 20 PhilHealth executives and employees.
“Maybe we should ask the National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, anong nangyari sa mga kasong iyon,” he said.
The state-owned health insurance agency was also embroiled in the “ghost” dialysis scam last year, where government funds were allegedly used for nonexistent kidney treatments.
President Duterte asked for the resignations of top PhilHealth officials following the insurance fraud scandal, which led to the hiring of Morales as its new chief./PN
