Lacson to sign only one committee report on alleged PhilHealth anomalies if clash exists

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said he would sign only one Senate committee report regarding PhilHealth if the findings of the Committees of the Whole and Blue Ribbon are contradicting.

"Kung nailabas 'yung committee report last year after the hearing conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon, iba ang situation noon at iba ang situation ngayon," Lacson told reporters in an online interview.

"Pero kung ilalabas niya (Senator Richard Gordon) ngayon at magkakasabay, lalo na kung magkasabay sila sa floor. Parang napaka-awkward ng magiging situation naming mga senador," he added.

The Senate Committee of the Whole, which conducted three hearings this month on PhilHealth, is set to release its report next week.

‘Gordon report’

Blue Ribbon Committee chair Richard Gordon, on the other hand, bared on Tuesday an executive summary of a report regarding the panel's findings on the investigation it conducted last year.

Gordon's office clarified on Wednesday that what was shared to the media was the "chairman's report" which is yet to be routed to the members of the Committees on Public Accountability and Health.

In Gordon's report, he recommended the removal of all PhilHealth regional vice presidents whom he claimed have benefitted from fraudulent claims.

In the recent Senate inquiry, however, those regional vice presidents were identified by the witnesses as the "good mafia" who also provided documentary evidence to prove alleged corruption within PhilHealth.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said there will be "no sacred cows," in the Committee of the Whole's recommendations.

Lacson said he has yet to receive a copy of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's report.

"Kung magkakontra 'yung dalawang committee reports I cannot see how a senator would sign both. Kung hindi sila talagang nagka-clash directly, pwedeng parehong committee report mapirmahan namin," he said.

Lacson maintained that he is confident in the integrity of the testimonies and documents possessed by the Senate Committee of the Whole.

Nevertheless, the senator clarified that he is in no position to question the timing of the release of Gordon's report.

"Si Senator Gordon napaka-passionate din niyan eh. Pagka mayroon siyang gustong i-point out talagang ilalabas niya 'yan. So let's leave it at that," he said.

"Ang sinasabi ko lang, ako particularly I can speak for myself, hindi ako puwedeng pumirma pareho sa dalawang committee report na nagbabanggaan," he added.

The matter can be resolved in a caucus, Lacson further said.

Meanwhile, Sotto said the Blue Ribbon Committee's report from its probe last year may even complement the fresh one to be released soon. — RSJ, GMA News