Hontiveros expects Duque to tell all on PhilHealth probe

Health Secretary Francsico Duque III, being the chairman of the PhilHealth Board, is expected to reveal everything that he knows about the alleged irregularities hounding the state health insurer, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Friday.

"I expect him to tell all lalo na't mysteriously nanahimik sila sa loob ng nakaraang kalahating buwan samantalang binabayo na naman ang PhilHealth ng mga alegasyon muli ng korupsyon," Hontiveros told reporters in a virtual interview.

"He is obliged to shed light, tulungan ang Senado na alamin ang buong katotohanan," she added.

Further, the opposition senator said Duque has this burden of explaining what he did to help stem corruption within PhilHealth—having been part of the management since 2001.

Hontiveros pointed out the following PhilHealth issues flagged by the Commission on Audit in previous years when Duque held key positions:

•     2004 - excesses in administrative expenses amounting to P490 million
•     2008 - excesses in administrative expenses worth P80 million
•     2009 - excesses in administrative expenses amounting to P200 million
•     2012 -  P1.45 billion bonuses and allowances without legal basis and despite notice of disallowances; P3.05 billion doubtful payments for claims

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•     2013 -  P1.76 billion bonuses and allowances
•     2018 - P7.9 million excessive and unauthorized Representation and Transportation Allowances

Hontiveros added that in June 2019, Duque was slapped with graft and plunder complaint over his alleged conflict of interest in the lease of a PhilHealth regional office at a building owned by his family in Dagupan City—an allegation that has been dismissed by Duque as "nuisance" and "unfounded."

Hontiveros said Duque's silence on the recent PhilHealth issues either means he was aware of his negligence of his mandate as chair of the PhilHealth Board, or he knows something about the alleged anomalies but chooses to cover them up.

Duque is expected to appear before the Senate Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.

Senator Panfilo Lacson described the Cabinet official as a "big elephant" who is not in the room for keeping mum on the questionable cash advances of PhilHealth through the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism, alleged overpriced IT equipment, and financial statements that are supposedly manipulated.—AOL, GMA News