Duque denies role in PhilHealth IRM mess, laments Senate findings

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday said it was “unfortunate” that the Senate recommended the filing of criminal charges against him, stressing that he had no say in the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM).

The Senate Committee of the Whole earlier urged raps against Duque, chairman of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the agency’s resigned chief Ricardo Morales, among others, over the "improper and illegal implementation of the IRM.”

“This is not the best time for the Executive to have a difference with the Legislative branch, but two weeks ago I went to the Senate to shed light on the issues based on my personal knowledge,” Duque said in a statement.

Malacañang previously said that President Rodrigo Duterte still trusted his Health Secretary despite the allegations of widespread corruption surrounding PhilHealth.

“As a non-voting Chairman under the Universal Health Care Law, it is unfortunate that I was impleaded in the alleged IRM irregularities when I was not even present during the deliberation nor did I sign the Board Resolution,” Duque added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier said that the IRM implementation had no legal basis because funds were released to hospitals prior to the adoption of a Board Resolution. 

In August, a whistleblower revealed that the PhilHealth executive committee stole some P15 billion in funds through the IRM and other fraudulent schemes.

Duque maintained that he will cooperate with any investigation into the accusations.

“Certainly, I intend to clear my name,” he said. -NB, GMA News