By Fernan Angeles
FOR the second time, President Rodrigo Duterte warded off Senate’s recommendation to fire and file criminal charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in relation to the alleged irregularities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, instead suggested to the public to wait for whatever findings and recommendation which would be submitted by the task force formed to investigate the issues hounding PhilHealth.
“Si Presidente naman po ay nagtitiwala pa rin kay Secretary Duque pero antayin po natin ang rekomendasyon ng task force dahil kung meron din ganyang rekomendasyon ang task force ay rerespetuhin naman po ng Presidente ang rekomendasyon,” Roque said.
Roque said in a television interview that the Palace respects the position of the senators but the President would “defer” to the findings of the inter-agency body led by the Department of Justice.
The task force is expected to submit its findings to Duterte on September 14.
The Senate Committee of the Whole earlier urged the filing of criminal charges against Duque, chairman of PhilHealth board, the agency’s resigned chief Ricardo Morales, and several others over the “improper and illegal implementation” of the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) or the cash advances to healthcare institutions.
Duque lamented the Senate findings, stressing that he had no say in the IRM. He also said he has zero tolerance for corruption and fraud.
“Rest assured that I am one with you to ensure accountability of public officers and uphold public office as a public trust,” he told a House inquiry on Wednesday.
The Senate Committee of the Whole’s report also recommended that Duterte appoint a new person to replace Duque in the DOH.
Committee Report No. 107, filed on September 1, said Duterte should “appoint a new Secretary of the Department of Health who has a stronger will to fight corruption within his organization and the agencies under his or her watch.”