WATCH: Garin sings own version of ‘Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang’ in response to Senate panel report

MANILA, Philippines — One day after a Senate panel report recommending the filing of charges against her was released, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin sang her own version of a classic Filipino hit “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang”, which she dedicated to the “perpetrators of lies.”

During the online press briefing of the House of Representatives’ minority bloc on Wednesday, Garin responded to the report of the Senate blue ribbon committee which recommended the filing of criminal charges against her and other officials during the Aquino administration over the alleged misuse of funds in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Gamin said that based on her understanding, the report was not the report of the “Senate as a whole in relation to the PhilHealth fraud.”

Notably, she only referred to the report as “Gordon’s report”, in reference to Senator Richard Gordon who chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee.

“In one sentence, I will describe Gordon’s report as a big joke! Despite the repeated lambasting of Gordon against me, taking advantage of his position as senator and chairman of the committee on good government, I have kept mum,” Garin said.

Later in the briefing, Garin was asked what she believes are the intentions of Gordon to point his fingers at her.

It was here that Garin said she would deliver a song which she dedicates to the “perpetrators of lies.”

“Bakit ngayon lang ‘yan, bakit ngayon kung kailan nakikilala na ang totoong mafia?” Garin sang to the tune of Ogie Alcasid’s classic hit “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang.”

“Tila nililinlang, tinatakpan, nililihis, inuuto tayo,” Garin continued.

https://twitter.com/NAMercadoINQ/status/1298501481847382017

According to the Senate committee’s report, in 2015, P10.6 billion was allocated for the premium of senior citizens but this amount was “diverted” to the construction of projects of the Department of Health (DOH).

“The loss of P10.6 Billion that was spent on uncompleted projects for political campaign purposes stunted PhilHealth’s financial growth,” the report noted.

The report stated that “by diverting the budget, then DOH Sec. Garin and company put in disrepute the integrity of the PhilHealth fund and derailed the march to efficient and reliable health insurance in this country.”

But Garin argued that if the committee really conducted an investigation on the matter, it would show that the allegations against her do not have a basis.

“Kung totoong nag-imbestiga si Senator Gordon at hindi lang simpleng axe to grind ito, malalaman niya na walang basehan ang alegasyon ukol sa P10.6 billion na paulit-ulit niyang binabanggit,” Garin said.

“That money is part of the Unprogrammed Fund in the 2015 GAA (General Appropriations Act). Bago i-release and budget na ito, may mga kundisyon na kailangan munang maabot,” she added. [ac]