Gierran backs emergency powers for Duterte to address PhilHealth mess

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A House of Representatives panel’s proposal to grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address alleged corruption hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) was supported by its newly-appointed chief Dante Gierran.

“Maganda, napakaganda po,” Gierran said in a televised briefing on Thursday when sought for comment on the proposal.

(That’s good, it’s really good.)

Gierran, who once headed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI),  highlighted the importance of public health service amid COVID-19 pandemic which is taking a toll on the people’s livelihoods.

“Kasi you know, ano po ang the basics of governance, the basics of leadership, the basic of helping Filipinos kundi yung serbisyo para sa kalusugan. Pag ang kalusugan natin ang macocompromise, sino ba magtratrabaho?…Pinakaimportante, ekonomiya,” he said.

(The basics of governance, basics of leadership, the basics of helping Filipinos is providing public health service. If health is compromised, who will work? The most important is our economy.)

Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee, said the panel is “inclined” to grant Duterte emergency powers.

gsg