Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26)— Some lawmakers have called for a full-blown investigation into the fresh controversies and allegations of irregularities hounding the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
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A group of PhilHealth officers and staff says there is "no unabated and widespread" corruption in their organization. | @CarolynBonquin pic.twitter.com/54ySTPOeO1
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) July 26, 2020
In a statement on Friday, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he would be drafting a resolution calling for an inquiry on the said issues— which were thrust into the spotlight following the resignation of one of the agency’s officers.
The proposed Senate Committee of the Whole inquiry will be one of the chamber’s “top agenda” when session resumes on Monday, Lacson added.
“Unabated corruption and mismanagement of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) funds has been a topic of discussion among Senate President (Vicente “Tito”) Sotto and me, along with some senators from the majority bloc, for quite some time now,” Lacson said.
“Needless to say, there is urgency that the Senate has to act on the matter immediately, as part of its oversight mandate, having passed the Universal Health Law,” he added.
Sotto, for his part, also said there should be a “full-blown Senate investigation” again on the new issues faced by the state health insurer.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a separate investigation into the alleged irregularities in the agency, following the resignation its anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Keith who also made the same accusations.
Keith, in his resignation letter, had reportedly claimed widespread corruption and other anomalies in the system, including an unfair job promotion process.
‘No corruption’
A group of PhilHealth officers and staff said on Sunday the agency will welcome any investigation, but denied claims of corruption in the organization.
“We, along with dedicated and committed officers and staff of this Corporation, declare that there is no unabated and widespread corruption in PhilHealth. We are deeply hurt by these allegations and insinuations,” the group said in a statement.
The group stressed that any wrongdoing committed by an officer shall be reported, but maintained that complaints should be filed in the proper venue and should be given due process.
“We are open to any investigation for alleged anomalies or irregularities we are accused of. We are saddened to be accused based on conjectures and hasty generalization which we find unfair, preposterous and malicious. He who alleges must prove,” it added.
PhilHealthPresident and CEO Ricardo Morales has earlier denied the former official’s accusations, and challenged him to “come up with the evidence and file the case.”
READ: PhilHealth under probe, denies widespread corruption alleged by resigned officer
Other senators including Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel likewise backed the calls for a probe, citing the need for accountability especially during this time of crisis.
