Emergency powers for PRRD to fix PhilHealth woes mulled

Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Michael Defensor, committee chair, made the statement during a congressional inquiry into the widespread corruption in PhilHealth on Wednesday. (File photo: Michael Tan Defensor/Facebook)

MANILA – The chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts is mulling to grant emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the alleged anomalies hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Michael Defensor, committee chair, made the statement during a congressional inquiry into the widespread corruption in PhilHealth on Wednesday.

“The committee is inclined and we are discussing about the emergency powers to be granted to the President,” Defensor said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who was present during the hearing, agreed with the proposal to speed up the reforms in the state insurer.

“Opo. Maganda po ang inyong panukala na bigyan po ng karagdagang kapangyarihan si Pangulong Duterte para mas maging mabilis ang reporma [sa] PhilHealth (Yes. The proposal to grant additional powers to President Duterte is good to fast-track the reforms in PhilHealth),” Duque said.

Earlier, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommended the sacking of all PhilHealth regional directors following allegations that they were part of a mafia manipulating the state insurer’s financial records.

Several officials are being accused of being members of the so-called PhilHealth “mafia” that is allegedly manipulating the state insurer’s financial records.

On Monday, Duterte directed newly appointed PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dante Gierran to implement a reshuffle at the agency.

Gierran replaced former PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales who resigned on Aug. 26 after admitting to have been diagnosed with lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes.