‘Resignation will not save your neck,’ Duterte tells erring PhilHealth officials

MANILA, Philippines — “Resignation will not save your neck.”

This was President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning to erring Philippine Health Corporation (PhilHealth) officials who stepped down amid probe on alleged corruption in the agency.

“Ang una kong sinabi, yayariin ko kayo, yung sa PhilHealth. At tinotoo ko talaga. Marami sa kanila na tinanggal, ‘yung iba nagresign. But let me remind everybody in this government na yung resignation will not save your neck,” Duterte said in a pre-recorded speech aired Tuesday.

(I said first that I will go after you, those in PhilHealth. And I did it. Many of them have been removed, others resigned.)

“Magresign ka man, hindi ka mag-report, you would be summoned or subpoenaed because for all intents and purposes you are not allowed to resign, to escape liability,” he went on.

Some 43 PhilHealth officers quit their posts, newly appointed president Dante Gierran earlier said.

Of the 43, 27 tendered courtesy resignations, including 21 from the central office and six from regional offices.