Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 15) — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday denied that President Rodrigo Duterte’s confidence in Health Secretary Francisco Duque III influenced the findings on the investigation of controversies on PhilHealth.
Duque, who serves as the PhilHealth board’s ex-officio chairman, was not included in the list of officials recommended to face complaints based on the initial findings of the Justice Department-led Task Force.
In the 177-page report to Duterte, the Task Force said members of the PhilHealth board of directors and executive committee were found to be “negligent” in some of their duties, including in the implementation of the interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM).
This was similar to the pronouncement of Duterte earlier this month. The President said while the embattled official may be found negligent in his work in PhilHealth, he assured that Duque has his full trust.
Roque denied Duterte’s stand influenced the investigators.
“Hindi naman siguro, eh ‘di dapat wala nang admonishment na nirekomenda,” Roque said during a media briefing.
[Translation: I don’t think so. If so, then it shouldn’t have recommended the admonishment.]
The Task Force made a recommendation to Duterte to “strongly admonish and remind the Chairman and Members of the Board of the grave consequences of their action or inaction.”
It also said the negligence of some officials was “mitigated” by the active concealment of important documents to gain the board’s approval.
Roque said Duque is not yet completely off the hook as the investigation will continue.
“This is only the beginning,” Roque said. “Nakasaad din po sa report na magpapatuloy po ang imbestigasyon ng NBI at ng DOJ at magpapatuloy pa rin po ang mga imbestigasyon ng Ombudsman.”
[Translation: This is only the beginning. The report also indicates the NBI, DOJ, and Ombudsman will continue their probe.]
Duterte approved the filing of complaints over the alleged anomalies within the agency against Ricardo Morales, former PhilHealth president and CEO; Jovita Aragona, senior vice president and chief information officer; Arnel De Jesus, chief operating officer; Renato Limsiaco Jr., senior vice president on fund management sector; Calixto Gabuya Jr., acting senior manager of Information Technology and Management Department; and Israel Pargas, senior vice president on health finance policy sector.
