MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday welcomed the Senate inquiry into his public service record as “a way of clearing his name”.
“My public service record is an open book. If there’s a single thread of conclusive evidence of my involvement on any and all issues, then let the axe fall,” Duque said in a statement.
Duque was Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president from 2001 to 2005, chairman of the board from 2005 to 2009, and board member in 2016.
He again became the chairman of the state insurer from 2017 to present.
“It pains me to be called ‘godfather’ before the Senate by a very polluted source. It hurts my family to be dragged in all sorts of innuendos just because I have been a former PhilHealth president, chairman, board member, again its chairman,” Duque said.
Duque said accountability and transparency have been his guidepost in all his years in the public sector.
The Health official said he tried to reform PhilHealth which, he claimed, is composed of “decent and competent public servants.”
“The rotten eggs are not the be-all of the institution. I thank the President and the Secretary of Justice in pursuing a clean-up,” he said
Duque suggested to the Congress that a fixed term President and Chief Executive Officer be returned “because the reforms are long term”.
He also recommended a study to be made on “limiting the inclusion of Department Secretaries to ex-officio positions and the like”.
“Following the advice of senators, in yesterday’s PhilHealth Regular Board Meeting, I am seeking for a more active participation of the Secretaries of other member agencies of the Board of Directors,” he said.