Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 14) — President Rodrigo Duterte will respect the findings of the multi-agency task force investigating allegations of fraud and corruption within the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Malacañang said on Monday.
“Only the President can answer that question but I doubt it, kasi binigyan niya nga po ng kapangyarihan na maging fact-finding yung task force na binuo niya, no” answered Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque when asked about how the President will handle the task force’s findings, which are expected to be submitted September 14th.
[Translation: Only the President can answer that question but I doubt it, because he gave the task force, which he built, fact-finding (powers).]
RELATED: PhilHealth probes far from over even after Duterte sees Monday report, Guevarra says
“And I think dahil siya naman ang bumuo diyan (since he was the one who created it), he will accept the findings of his own task force,” the official added.
The President assembled the task force in early August and provided it the power to conduct lifestyle checks and impose preventive suspensions on PhilHealth officials. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra leads the task force, whose members are top officials from the Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Special Assistant to the President, Anti-Money Laundering Council, National Bureau of Investigation and National Prosecution Service.
Aside from findings, the task force is also expected to submit recommendations, including proposed charges against erring employees.
Roque likewise allayed concerns that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who is also PhilHealth’s ex-officio chairperson, will be absolved by the chief executive ahead of the release of the findings.
“Sa tingin ko naman po, rerespetuhin ni Presidente kung meron mang ebidensyang mahanap ang task force regardless of who is involved,” the Palace spokesperson explained.
[Translation: I think the President will respect whatever evidence the task force will find regardless of who is involved.]
RELATED: Duterte to Duque: This is not the time to resign
In an earlier address, Duterte consoled Duque amid issues hounding the state insurer, saying “if you handle a big organization…talagang magne-negligent ka, kasi hindi mo talaga mahahabol minsan.”
[Translation: [I]f you handle a big organization…you will be seen as negligent, because you cannot run after them sometimes.]
