‘Malicious, without basis,’ Duque says of PhilHealth mafia ‘godfather’ tag

MANILA, Philippines— Health Secretary Francisco Duque III branded as “malicious and without basis”  allegations that he was the “godfather” of the so-called mafia within the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The “godfather” tag was brought up by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros at Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate, constituted as the Committee of the Whole to look into alleged widespread corruption in the Philhealth.

“Sabi po ni Atty. Keith kayo daw yung godfather ng mafia? Do you have a reaction to that?” Hontiveros said, referring to resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith.

Responding to the senator, Duque said, “I deny this, absolutely malicious and without basis. I don’t wish to dignify that allegation.”

Keith earlier claimed that a mafia-like syndicate has pocketed a total of P15 billion from the agency’s funds through various schemes.

“Naniniwala po ako na ang dahilan kung bakit hindi natatapos ang korapsyon sa PhilHealth, at naging kutlura na po ito, ay ang pagtatalaga o ang paglalagay ng mga sindikato o mafia ng kanilang kasamahan, kasabwat or kapwa sindikato sa matataas na posisyon na nakakatulong sa kanilang iligal na operasyon,” he said during August 4 hearing of the Senate.

(I believe that the reason why corruption doesn’t end in PhilHealth, which has become a culture already, is due to the appointment, or the syndicate or mafia that has been put in place, of their peers, cohorts or fellow syndicate members in the executive department, which helps them in their illegal operation.)

PhilHealth board member Alejandro Cabading confirmed during the same hearing Keith’s allegations.

Cabading even tagged four high-ranking officials of Philhealth as part of the said “mafia” within the agency.

/MUF