By Fernan Angeles
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has made a public admission that corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation did happen and hurt what is already an ailing nation. He however assured the public that additional funds allocated for the government’s COVID-19 response were and will be spent properly.
“I must admit, and it would be stupid of me to invent lies, na talagang nangyari ‘yung sa PhilHealth. And that is why the NBI, after an investigation, submitted their findings to the Ombudsman, and recommended prosecution in court. Nandoon ‘yun,” Duterte said during his weekly public address.
He said that additional funds provided by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Bayanihan 1) and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) laws were spent properly.
“Ito namang pera ng Bayanihan Act, I assure you, that it was spent wisely, it was spent according to rules. At sinigurado ko ‘yan at the start. Wala hong ano diyan, sindikato. Wala hong, sabihin mo na may nakawan,” Duterte said.
“And we will be careful with the next round of Bayanihan. There’s still money to be, well, given to the people, to the poor, especially,” he added, hinting at a third Bayanihan law.
The Bayanihan 2 law, signed into law in September 11, is seen as a life vest for the economy, as it includes a P140-billion aid package for industries adversely affected by the pandemic, and a P25.52-billion standby fund that the government may spend before the 2021 budget takes effect.
Its predecessor, the Bayanihan 1, granted Duterte additional powers, such as the authority to realign items under the 2020 national budget, to respond to the pandemic. It was signed into law on March 25 and expired on June 24.