Sotto tells Morales: No superpowers needed, just sack grafters

PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales does not need supernatural powers to purge corruption at the agency, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday.

"Tanggalin mo lahat ng corrupt, hindi kailangan si Superman!" Sotto said on Twitter.

The Senate leader was reacting to a news item wherein Morales was quoted as saying: "Kahit si Superman paupuin mo dito, baka hindi niya kaya."

During the Senate hearings on alleged irregularities in PhilHealth, Morales said the problem on fraud is systemic and deep-seated. He stressed that his one year of office in the corporation is not enough to solve this.

'Legal racket' in PhilHealth

Whistleblowers in the ongoing Senate investigation claimed that the whole PhilHealth executive committee are members of a mafia which has allegedly been able to pocket P15 billion.

This allegation has been refuted by those accused.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said one of the many roots of corruption in PhilHealth was its weak implementation of penalties against erring health care providers due to protection being given by so-called mafia members.

"How come wala pang napa-file na kaso at pinaparusahang maigi nitong PhilHealth na ito? Ang balita sa akin, malakas daw ang mafia dahil hawak nila itong private [health] institutions na ito," he told reporters in an online interview.

He pointed out that public healthcare institutions are less frequently used in fraudulent activities because of the presence of the Commission on Audit.

"Unang unang dapat tingnan diyan, palakasin, at patibayin ay ang legal department ng PhilHealth. Without putting the fear of suspension of hospitals, without putting the fear of penalties and criminal cases against erring officials, tuloy ang ligaya ng mga mafia na ito," Zubiri said.

The senator revealed on Wednesday that some health care institutions are hiring "fake patients" to get higher reimbursements from PhilHealth.

Morales admitted that PhilHealth lost about P10.2 billion due to fraudulent claims in 2019.

He said 20,000 fraud cases are currently being investigated. —LDF, GMA News