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Duque believes Gierran could restore public confidence in PhilHealth
By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA NewsHealth Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed belief Wednesday that newly-installed PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran will be able to restore the public's confidence in the state health insurer amid the controversies it is currently embroiled in.
"I'm optimistic that under the most able leadership of Atty. Dante Gierran, he will ferret out the scalawags and return the public's confidence in PhilHealth especially in these trying times," Duque said during the House joint panel inquiry into the alleged irregularities at PhilHealth.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Gierran
, a former National Bureau of Investigation director, following the resignation of ex-PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales and the leaves of absence of top executives amid allegations of corruption and fraud.Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said the President is serious in addressing corruption in PhilHealth.
“Tingin ko naman sapat na ‘yung ginawa ni Presidente na pinalitan niya po at nagtalaga siya ng bagong presidente at CEO ng PhilHealth at nagpapatuloy po ang imbestigasyon. Meron na pong mga na-preventive suspension,” Roque said in an interview aired on state-run PTV on Wednesday.
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“Seryoso ang Presidente at tinatanggap po ng taumbayan kung gaano kaseryoso ang Presidente para linisin ang hanay diyan po sa PhilHealth,” he added.
Gierran earlier admitted that he is scared to lead PhilHealth considering that he lacks experience in public health.
But despite the lack of experience, he said his experience as an investigator, lawyer, and accountant would help him solve the issues surrounding PhilHealth.
“Please spread the word, tell our people, the Filipinos, to give PhilHealth a chance. My job is to restore the trust of the people to the government,” Gierran said.
“I am new so give me a chance to move. Pagbigyan ninyo muna ako,” he added. —With a report from Virgil Lopez/AOL/KG, GMA News