‘Drastic step’ from Malacañang needed in addressing PhilHealth corruption —Lacson

Malacañang cannot simply invoke "trust" on keeping PhilHealth officials when the state insurer is allegedly hounded by widespread corruption amid a pandemic, according to Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday.

"The fact there is corruption that is going on and continues to go on sa PhilHealth, dapat may drastic step na gawin ang Malacañang. 'Di na pwede ang trust and confidence na blanket," Lacson said in a virtual interview with reporters.

"Tulad ngayon, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission na mismo nag-submit ng report. Gusto natin malaman at makita anong gagawin ng executive department tungkol dito," he added.

Lacson said the Senate "can only do so much" to expose the irregularities within PhilHealth and amend laws to improve the agency.

"Gagawa kami ng committee report para sa aming recommendation and legislative work, ano puwede namin maipasok in the form of legislation para ma-prevent itong pagdagusdos ng pondo ng PhilHealth.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said Congress does not have prosecutorial powers.

"Wala po sa kamay namin ang magkaso so kung umaangal kayo dahil may hindi nakakasuhan, or hindi nasasampahan ng kaso o hindi nako-convict, eh 'yung judicial at executive department ang tanungin ninyo, hindi kami," he said in a separate virtual interview.

"Kung ano ang nakikita nating butas dito na kilos ng Board, kilos ng executive committee, kilos ng Presidente, sisikipan natin dito sa batas, iaammend natin," he said.

The Palace earlier said that President Rodrigo Duterte will not fire Philhealth chief Ricardo Morales unless there is evidence linking him to corruption.

Sotto said the Senate will submit its findings to the Palace after completing the investigation next week.

'Leave of absence'

Asked if Morales and Board members should take a leave of absence to give way to an impartial investigation, Lacson said it is a personal decision.

"Depende sa delicadeza ng tao. Kung may sense of propriety, anong level ng sense of propriety mo, doon ka magde-decide. Kung ang intestinal fortitude mo napakatibay huwag ka mag-resign or leave pero kung sense of propriety mo malakas, nasa sa kanila 'yan," he said.

Last week, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said Duterte still trusts Morales despite the recent corruption allegations in PhilHealth. —LDF, GMA News