Roque challenges PhilHealth chief to clean agency’s ranks

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday challenged Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales to clean the state insurer’s ranks, even asking what he has done to address the alleged corruption within the agency.

“Ang hamon ko kay General Morales, tinanggal ang dating mga miyembro ng board at pati iyong presidente dahil sa alegayon ng korapsyon, bakit ni isa wala pa siyang nalilitis, ni isa wala pa siyang natatanggal?” said Roque in an interview over dzBB. He re-posted the quotes over his official Twitter account.

(My challenge to General Morales: you relieved the former members of the board and even the president due to allegations of corruption but why is it that not even one has undergone a probe and no one has been removed yet?)

Ang hamon ko kay Gen Morales, tinanggal ang dating mga miyembro ng board at pati yung presidente dahil sa alegasyon ng korapsyon, bakit ni-isa, wala pa siyang nalilitis, ni-isa wala pa siyang natatanggal? 1/8

— Harry Roque (@attyharryroque) June 17, 2020

“Tapos magrereklamo siyang walang pera. Natural, dahil iyong mga buwaya, buhay na buhay pa rin diyan sa Philhealth,” he added.

(And then he will say that there are no more funds. Natural, because the crocodiles are still alive there in PhilHealth.)

But in a text message to INQUIRER.net, Morales said around 20 executives and employees have already been charged after PhilHealth sent documents to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

“Philhealth provided voluminous documents to NBI [and] PACC which resulted in [about] 20 executives and employees [having] been charged. Those agencies can give an update on those cases,” Morales said.

Morales earlier expressed concern over PhilHealth’s financial position by 2021. He noted the significant drop in contribution collections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morales even called for a delay in the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law due PhilHealth’s depleting funds.

Roque, a lawyer and former Kabayan representative, was one of the principal authors of the Universal Health Care Bill in Congress.

“Wala pong personalan, pero sapat na pong panahon ang lumipas para dapat naimbestigahan na niya (Morales) at nalaman na niya kung ano ang nangyayari sa Philhealth,” Roque also said.

(Nothing personal, but the time passed is already enough for him to investigate and know what happened in PhilHealth.)

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte sought the resignation of then PhilHealth chief Roy Ferrer and six board members following the Inquirer’s three-part investigative report on “ghost dialysis” treatments, overpayments and other fraudulent practices, and a “mafia” behind padded claims.