Senate to look for evidence, submit report on PhilHealth 'corruption' to Duterte —Sotto

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said the Senate will furnish the Palace with its findings on the alleged irregularities in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

"Nanghihingi ng ebidensiya eh. Hanapin natin ang ebidensya," Sotto said in a virtual interview.

Another round of Senate inquiry will take place next Tuesday, August 11. 

Nevertheless, Sotto is still giving PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales the benefit of the doubt, saying the latter could also be blindsided at the very least.

"Mayroon pa rin possibility na napapalibutan siya at 'yung sinasabi sa kaniya ay hindi accurate, hindi tama, pinagsisinungalingan siya," he said.

"I hope the other side is not true which is alam niyang nangyayari 'yun. 'Yun ang mabigat na pangyayari na sana hindi totoo," Sotto added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also said Morales was either misled or co-opted.

Asked if he would recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte a shuffle in PhilHealth posts, Sotto said: "Siguro dapat pag-isipan na niya."

He said senators will finish the legislative investigation to make a sound recommendation.

"After Tuesday, kung anuman ang kahihinatnan ng pagpupulong ng Committee of the Whole ng Senado, kung ano rekomendasyon namin, siguro naman it will have weight on the perception of the Palace," Sotto said.

Earlier, Malacañang said Duterte will not axe Morales unless there is proof that the retired military general is engaged in corruption.

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday linked at least 36 officials of the state insurer to overpayments allegedly made to hospitals.

Sotto said PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica will be invited in the continuation of the Senate hearing next week. —KG, GMA News