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Prove innocence in court, Duterte tells Morales
By Fernan Angeles IF you’re innocent, prove it in court, said President Rodrigo Duterte moments after approving the recommendation of the multi-agency task force created to probe the alleged corruption activities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to file criminal and administrative cases against former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales and several other officials of…
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Sotto believes Duterte will fire Duque anyway
By John Clifford Lintao CITING Senate investigation report on humongous pieces of evidence dragging Health Secretary Francisco Duque into the multi-billion anomalies, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto believes President Rodrigo Duterte would finally fire the embattled Cabinet member. Sotto said Duterte would change his mind about keeping Duque in his Cabinet once he finished reading…
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PhilHealth officials move to void suspension
By John Clifford Lintao CLAIMING to have been deprived of due process, two officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) have asked the Office of the Ombudsman to void the preventive suspension slapped against them over corruption allegations at the state health insurer. PhilHealth senior vice president Dennis Mas and lawyer Lawrence Mijares, in…
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No command responsibility on my shoulder, says Duque
By John Clifford Lintao COMMAND responsibility over the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation doesn’t rest on him but to its president and CEO, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque over Senate calls for the filing of criminal charges against both of them over alleged anomalies at the state medical insurer. Duque, who chairs PhilHealth board, said…
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Duterte still trusts Duque
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…
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PhilHealth crisis far from over
By John Clifford Lintao MORE pieces of evidence are cropping out from the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation as one of the agency’s former senior auditing specialist claims to have flagged some P17.4-million worth of premiums collected from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), using supposedly fake receipts. According to Ken Sarmiento — previously assigned in the…
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New emergency powers for Duterte proposed
By John Clifford Lintao CONGRESSMEN looking into the irregularities at PhilHealth are seriously considering the idea of filing a bill granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the issues hounding the state health insurer. “As agreed by the committee, we will be filing an Emergency Powers Act,” said House Committee on Public Accounts…
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Duque denies role in PhilHealth IRM mess
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday said it was “unfortunate” that the Senate recommended the filing of criminal charges against him, stressing that he had no say in the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM). The Senate Committee of the Whole earlier urged raps against Duque, chairman of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the…
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Duterte to Gierran: Remove all regional vice presidents of PhilHealth
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the new president of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to remove the regional vice presidents of the state insurer whether they are doing a good job or otherwise. In his briefing on Monday night, Duterte announced his appointment of retired National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran as the new…
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Imee implicates Duque in PhilHealth mess
By John Clifford Lintao THERE are pieces of evidence that would link Health Secretary Francisco Duque to alleged corruption schemes at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). “May sinasabi nga at narinig ko si Senator Ping Lacson na sabi naman ni Sir Ping na talagang wala pa raw ebidensya na nagli-link kay Sec. Duque sa…