{"id":270262,"date":"2020-09-29T07:51:23","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T11:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=270262"},"modified":"2020-09-29T07:51:23","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T11:51:23","slug":"prrds-proposal-to-abolish-philhealth-aims-to-solve-corruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/09\/29\/prrds-proposal-to-abolish-philhealth-aims-to-solve-corruption\/","title":{"rendered":"PRRD\u2019s proposal to abolish PhilHealth aims to solve corruption"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In his televised public address on Monday night, Duterte said he would propose to Congress the abolition of the embattled PhilHealth as a \u201csurgical move\u201d to address corruption in the state firm. (PCOO file photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MANILA<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 President Rodrigo Duterte\u2019s plan to ask Congress to abolish Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) aims to eradicate corruption in the state-run insurer, Malaca\u00f1ang said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWala pong magbabago, mga mukha lang, matatanggal lang po ang korapsyon kapag nabuwag at bumuo ng bagong organisasyon na gaganap din ng ginagawa po ng<\/em>\u00a0PhilHealth (Not much will change, only the personalities, corruption will only be eradicated if [PhilHealth] will be abolished and create a new organization that will continue the function of PhilHealth),\u201d Roque said in a virtual presser.<\/p>\n

In his televised public address on Monday night, Duterte said he would propose to Congress the abolition of the embattled PhilHealth as a \u201csurgical move\u201d to address corruption in the state firm.<\/p>\n

\u201cItong<\/em>\u00a0(This) PhilHealth, I am going to propose to Congress to abolish the (PhilHealth),\u201d Duterte said after meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infection Diseases (IATF-EID).<\/p>\n

Duterte said he prefers to replace PhilHealth with a new agency rather than privatizing the state corporation.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreate a new agency out of that — out of the ruins of that old one (PhilHealth),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The President said he is ready to appear in Congress to discuss with the lawmakers how to end corruption in government.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they should allow me to talk first then discuss how we can cut corruption. Simplify the Ease of Doing Business. I have some recommendation, almost radical,\u201d Duterte said.\u00a0\u201cKaya walang ibang<\/em>\u00a0remedy\u00a0diyan<\/em>\u00a0(There is no other remedy there). It must be a surgical move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duterte discussed his plan for PhilHealth in front of Health Secretary and PhilHealth chairman Francisco Duque III, a member of IATF-EID.<\/p>\n

\u201cHindi na puwede<\/em>, Secretary Duque.\u00a0Hindi na puwede na itong mga tao na ito<\/em>\u00a0they are already entrenched\u00a0na. Wala, walang mangyari<\/em>\u00a0(It is no longer possible, Secretary Duque. It is not possible since these people, they are already entrenched. Nothing will happen),\u201d he said. \u201cBut I will try to begin tomorrow shaking the tree sa (at) PhilHealth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roque said Duterte\u2019s \u201cshaking the tree\u201d was figurative since the Chief Executive already gave new PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dante Gierran until December this year to \u201cto fix up the mess in PhilHealth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKinakailangan talaga tanggalin ang mga bulok diyan sa<\/em>\u00a0PhilHealth\u00a0at kung hindi talaga magawa iyan<\/em>\u00a0by December, well\u00a0kinakailangan ng batas para buwagin po iyan at palitan ng bago<\/em>\u00a0(There is really a need to remove rotten [eggs] there in PhilHealth and if it will not be done by December, well, a new law is needed to revamp and replace it with new [agency],\u201d Roque said.\u00a0\u201cIyon lang po ang intensyon ng Presidente<\/em>\u00a0(That\u2019s the only intention of the President).<\/p>\n

Roque, however, said Duterte still believes that PhilHealth has many officials and employees who are not involved in corruption.<\/p>\n

\u201cIyong mga matitino naman po, wala kayong dapat alalahanin dahil alam naman po ng Presidente kung sino talaga ang bulok at sino ang matino<\/em>\u00a0(Those who are not corrupt, you have nothing to worry because the President knows who are corrupt and who are honest),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said government employees can only be removed through due process under the Civil Service law.<\/p>\n

\u201cPero iyong problema po talaga sa<\/em>\u00a0PhilHealth,\u00a0talagang masyado na pong<\/em>\u00a0systemic\u00a0iyong problema, napakadami nilang dapat tanggalin, napaka-pervasive po ng<\/em>\u00a0influence\u00a0nila, kaya iniisip ni Presidente baka mas mabuting i<\/em>-abolish and start from scratch (But the problem in PhilHealth is very systemic, many of them should be removed, their influence is very pervasive and that\u2019s why the President thinks it is better to abolish and start from scratch),\u201d Roque said.<\/p>\n

Duterte earlier approved the recommendation of the inter-agency task force led by the Department of Justice to file charges against at least six former and current officials of the PhilHealth) for their involvement in the alleged anomalies in the government insurer.<\/p>\n

Last month, Duterte created the task force to look into the supposed overpriced purchase of information and community technology (ITC) equipment of PhilHealth.<\/p>\n

Roque, during the Palace briefing, said more officials are expected to face charges as the task force continues to look into the deep-rooted corruption in PhilHealth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsahan na po natin ang sibakan, malawakang sibakan diyan sa<\/em>\u00a0PhilHealth (Expect dismissal, widespread dismissal in PhilHealth),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Resign offer is out of frustration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roque said he has no details about Duterte\u2019s offer to resign due to endless corruption in government.<\/p>\n

\u201cWala po akong detalye \u2018no kasi narinig ko na po iyan. Hindi naman po kauna-unahang sinabi rin ni Presidente iyan. Pero sa tagal ng kaniyang panunungkulan bilang alkalde pa at vice mayor at ngayon ay Presidente, ang talagang<\/em>\u00a0frustration\u00a0po niya kumbaga ay talagang hindi nawawala itong korapsiyon<\/em>\u00a0(I have no details because I heard it already before. It was not the first time Duterte said that. But he served as mayor and vice mayor for a very long time and now President, it was really his frustration that corruption does not end),\u201d Roque said.<\/p>\n

He said Duterte\u2019s zero tolerance against corruption has prompted him to talk about quitting the presidency he won in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow,\u00a0hindi po natuloy ang<\/em>\u00a0resignation\u00a0ni Presidente, tingin ko hindi po siya magri<\/em>-resign\u00a0ngayon dahil dalawang taon na lamang natitira sa kaniyang termino. Pero igugugol po niya iyong natitirang panahon niya para talagang linisin ang mga iba\u2019t ibang ahensiya ng ating gobyerno<\/em> (Now, the resignation of the President did not push through. I think he will not resign now because he has only two years left in his term. But he will spend his remaining time in office to really eradicate corruption in different government agencies),\u201d Roque said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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