Duque submits self to DOJ probe of PhilHealth fraud

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday said he would cooperate in the criminal investigation of a racket that had defrauded the national health insurer of billions of pesos through fictitious claims.

Duque met with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran at the Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier on Tuesday and offered to cooperate in the NBI investigation of the racket and other irregularities at Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Access to PhilHealth records

Duque, who serves as PhilHealth’s ex-officio chair, said in a statement that he had asked Guevarra to have him investigated as well, as part of his commitment “to put an end to these nefarious activities” in the national health insurance company and to make all concerned people “accountable for their actions.”

Duque’s cooperation would give the NBI access to PhilHealth records, Guevarra told reporters after the meeting.

“The NBI will first examine the relevant documents pertaining to payment of fraudulent claims, and then determine who will be summoned for investigation,” Guevarra said.

The decision to investigate came after the Inquirer published earlier in June a series of investigative reports about the bleeding of PhilHealth by WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center in Quezon City through fraudulent claims and by the company’s own employees and officials through connivance with fraudsters.

Guevarra had ordered the NBI to expand its investigation after filing charges against WellMed, which allegedly claimed P808,600 from PhilHealth for dialysis treatment of patients who had long been dead.

In his statement, Duque said he “strongly denounce and condemn in no uncertain terms all forms of fraud that threaten the sustainability and integrity of our social health insurance system.”

While he allowed himself to be subjected to the DOJ’s “unbiased” probe, Duque pointed out that the public should “not get distracted,” as he stressed that “the issue is not about me [but] about corruption and fraud.”

“My duty is to act on President Duterte’s anticorruption campaign, and all forms of corruption in the department and its attached agencies, most especially where the social health insurance funds are siphoned. It must stop and end now,” he said.

Lease deal won’t be probed

Guevarra said the investigation would not cover allegations that Duque had leased to PhilHealth a building owned by his family in Dagupan City for its regional office in Ilocos.

Graft and plunder charges have been filed against Duque with the Office of the Ombudsman over the lease agreement.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson accused Duque last week of conflict of interest, citing PhilHealth’s use of the Dagupan building owned by Educational and Medical Development Corp. (EMDC), which, Securities and Exchange Commission records show, is owned by Duque’s family and where he has 13,268 shares.

Duque denied that there was a conflict of interest in the lease agreement, saying he had already resigned as president and board member of EMDC when the deal was signed in 2017.

Malacañang said on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte still trusted Duque.

“The presumption is you’re innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Panelo, however, said the Palace was waiting for Duque to explain his side of the controversy.

Confidence in Morales

Duque expressed confidence that with the appointment of retired Gen. Ricardo Morales as the next PhilHealth chief, “increased transparency” can be expected at the state insurance company.

Malacañang has yet to release Morales’ appointment papers.

With the implementation of the universal health care law, Duque reminded health care providers, as well as erring PhilHealth officials and employees, “not [to] cheat the system nor even attempt to do it.”

“I appeal to all of you … to unite in the cause of fighting for better health care for all, fix the system and ensure good governance above all,” he said. —With a report from Julie M. Aurelio