Lacson wants ‘drastic steps’ from Palace to address PhilHealth mess

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte should no longer place a “blanket” trust and confidence in his officials, Senator Panfilo Lacson said as he urged Malacañang to take “drastic” measures to address continuous allegations of corruption in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Senators recently grilled PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales and other officials during an investigation into alleged anomalies in the agency.

“The fact there’s corruption going on and continues to go on sa PhilHealth e dapat meron talagang drastic na step na gawin ang Malacañang. Di na pwede yung trust and confidence na blanket,” Lacson told reporters in an online interview on Wednesday.

(The fact there’s corruption going on and continues to go on in PhilHealth, Malacañang should really take drastic steps. Blanket trust and confidence will no longer do.)

This, as he cited the President’s continued trust and confidence in Morales as well as in Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, whose resignation was earlier asked by senators over his supposed failure to effectively lead the country’s response to the pandemic.

“The Senate can only do so much. We can conduct hearings, we can let you know, the public know, what is transpiring or nangyayari sa  [what is happening in] PhilHealth,” Lacson said.

It is the executive department that has extensive resources and authority to conduct a full-blown investigation into the alleged widespread corruption in the state health insurer, according to Lacson.

He said a committee report from the Senate is “merely recommendatory.”

“Transmit namin sa Ombudsman o kaya sa Department of Justice yung aming findings sa aming inquiry. Hanggang doon lang yun,” he said.

(We can only transmit our report of our findings to the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice. That’s how far it goes.)

“So mas malawak yung kanilang kakayahan para magsagawa o magkaroon ng mas conclusice na findings tungkol dito,” he added.

(The executive department has broader resources to conduct an investigation with conclusive matters.)

/MUF