Duque admits WellMed owner is a godson

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday admitted that the owner of WellMed Dialysis Center, who was recently arrested, is his godson in a wedding.

According to a report by Sandra Aguinaldo in GMA News TV's State of the Nation with Jessica Soho on Wednesday, Duque said that he only found out about it when Bryan Sy's father-in-law—a batchmate in medical school—called him.

"Tinanong niya ako. Sabi niya sa akin, 'Classmate, paano ba itong kuwan, may problema ako.' Sabi niya, 'I want to ask for advice.' 'Ano 'yun?' sabi ko. 'Yung inaanak mo si Bryan Sy, 'yan ang may-ari ng WellMed,' sabi niya sa akin. 'Ha?' sabi kong ganun. Nagulat ako," Duque said.

"Sabi ko, 'Kung ganun pala, bakit hindi ninyo idinemanda? Bakit hindi ninyo isinumbong sa PhilHealth? Wala akong magagawa,' ika ko sa kaniya," he added.

Duque vowed not to protect Sy in the investigation about the alleged fraudulent activities of the embattled dialysis center in an alleged scheme involving deceased patients' PhilHealth benefits.

Sy was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on Monday for estafa. 

"I did not intercede or intervene. I did not talk to anyone in PhilHealth to help them or prevent any investigation," he said.

Further, Duque said he will no longer accept invitations to be a godfather as long as he is in public service.

On the other hand, Atty. Harry Roque who serves as the legal counsel of the two whistleblowers about the fraudulent claims, said that he sees nothing wrong about Duque being a godfather of Sy.

Roque said that such participation of public officials in weddings and other personal ceremonies is a norm in Philippine culture. — Dona Magsino/BAP, GMA News