By Fernan Angeles
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque has remained mum over a public clamor wanting to see the entire Philippine Health Insurance Corporation executive board to go on leave.
Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire confirmed that Duque has yet to take any position on the call for PhilHealth officials to consider going on “vacation” amid ongoing investigations of alleged massive corruption in the agency.
Vergeire however expressed optimism that Duque would back the call for PhilHealth executives to go on leave. “Of course, the Secretary of Health, being the Chairman of PhilHealth…kung may na-identify man na gaps saka mga ganitong issues, he would always support this call para ma-imbestigahan.”
“Para na rin transparent and clear to everybody,” Vergeire added.
It was however not clear whether the call would include Duque who sits as the chairman of the embattled agency.
The PhilHealth executives, led by President Ricardo Morales, have been accused by former PhilHealth anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith of pocketing P15 billion of the state insurer’s funds through the agency’s Interim Reimbursement Mechanism for hospitals for COVID-19, overpriced information technology projects, among others.
Keith also accused Morales of ordering him to talk to Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chief Greco Belgica and justify PhilHealth’s COVID-19 testing package which critics tagged as overpriced.
All allegations directed at Morales was promptly warded off by the PhilHealth chief, himself, who has gone on leave since early this week.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has also been vocal on his stand. He wanted the entire PhilHealth executive board to file a leave amid an “intense” investigation.