Guevarra firm on PhilHealth revamp recommendation

FILE: Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announces during a press briefing in Malacañang. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday stood firm on the Task Force PhilHealth’s recommendation for a major reorganization in the management of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

“In our report to the President (Rodrigo Duterte), we recommended that the GCG (Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), which is under the Office of the President), be directed to study the possible reorganization and the creation of an interim management committee in the meantime,” Guevarra told reporters.

Guevarra, who heads the task force which is looking into anomalies in the state insurer, said abolishing or privatizing PhilHealth would “need congressional action”.

In a public address on Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would propose to Congress the abolition of PhilHealth as a “surgical move” to address corruption in the state firm.

Duterte earlier said he believes Ombudsman Samuel Martires would eventually file corresponding charges against former PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales and other officials.

Duterte said the good rapport between the Ombudsman and the Executive department aided the probe into irregularities within the PhilHealth and lauded Martires for “trying his best” to go after erring PhilHealth officials.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier ordered a six-month suspension of 13 PhilHealth officials amid ongoing investigations on the alleged fraudulent activities within the agency.

Duterte approved the recommendation of Task Force PhilHealth to file criminal and administrative charges against PhilHealth officials.

He repeatedly vowed to use his remaining years in office in cleaning PhilHealth and punish officials involved in illegal activities.