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Gordon says panel report on PhilHealth came as ‘threat’ to some
By DONA MAGSINO,GMA NewsSenate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Richard Gordon surmised that his findings on PhilHealth irregularities from Senate hearings last year may have come as a threat to some after Senator Panfilo Lacson, who also made several exposés in the inquiry involving the state health insurer this month, expressed apprehension to sign it.
During an interview in One News on Wednesday, Gordon was asked: "Why does Senator Lacson feel that their report might put them in an awkward situation with your report kasi daw baka daw may clash? What could that clash be?"
"Wala lang sigurong masabi si Ping. Nate-threaten sila doon sa report because talagang scandalous 'yung report na inilabas namin. Hindi naman kami nakikialam doon sa report na 'yan eh. Hindi namin iniimbestiga ang report na 'yan," Gordon said, without specifying who were threatened.
"By the way, I asked permission. I told the Senate President on the floor, I have the report ready, I'm going to submit it, I'm going to report on it. You can put the report together if you like or it can be separate if you like," he added.
Lacson said he is inclined to sign only one committee report if that of the Senate Committee of Whole and of the Blue Ribbon would clash with each other. He said releasing two contradicting findings may put senators in an awkward situation.
In 2018, Lacson also declined
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Gordon's latest report on PhilHealth, released to the media on Tuesday, recommended the removal of all regional vice presidents as he alleged that they have benefitted from fraudulent claims in their respective jurisdictions.
However, the witnesses in the recent Senate hearings said these regional executives who were tagged as "mafia" last year were actually the "good mafia."
PhilHealth regional vice president Dennis Adre, one of those labeled among the "Mindanao group," said the incumbent executive committee of PhilHealth is the "real and bad" mafia.
Gordon assured that he is not competing with the Committee of the Whole which is set to release its findings next week.
"Why should I compete with them? I'm not competing with anybody. The important thing is to get the rascals out of PhilHealth," he said.
PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales, battling lymphoma, resigned from his post amid ongoing investigations on the state insurer's Interim Reimbursement Mechanism, alleged overpriced IT equipment, and financial statements which were supposedly manipulated.—LDF, GMA News