Duque assures virtual presence in Senate’s PhilHealth probe

Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III wearing a protective mask and face shield scratches his head as he and other government officials visit Antipolo city, Philippines to give away free face masks to residents on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. The capital and outlying provinces undergo another lockdown due to rising COVID-19 cases. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will “virtually” show up at the Senate’s probe into the alleged corrupt practices currently plaguing the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Senate President Vicente Sotto III said.

“He (Duque) has sent word to me that he will attend virtually,” Sotto said in a message to reporters on Monday.

Duque is among the Cabinet officials undergoing quarantine after they were exposed to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus anew.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who initiated the Senate probe together with Sotto, meanwhile, said “[b]eing possibly exposed to the virus is not an acceptable excuse as far as the Senate is concerned.”

“Sec. Duque can still participate virtually as a resource person,” he said in a separate message.

Lacson earlier said he intends to quiz Duque about his apparent silence on the corruption allegations hounding PhilHealth.

Duque acts as PhilHealth’s ex-officio chairman.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Risa Hontiveros also earlier joined calls for Duque to face the Senate investigation.

According to Hontiveros, Duque has “institutional memory about the goings-on inside of PhilHealth” for having served in the state insurer in “some capacity” since 2001.

PhilHealth is currently facing separate investigations of the Senate,  House of Representatives, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, and a high-level task force created by President Rodrigo Duterte and headed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Six regional vice presidents of PhilHealth recently heeded the call of DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra to temporarily vacate their posts as the task force conducts its probe.

The House resumed its investigation on Monday while the Senate’s probe is schduled to resume on Tuesday, August 18.

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