‘Get a good lawyer,' Sotto tells Duque who denied role in PhilHealth IRM controversy

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday urged Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to get a good lawyer after the latter invoked that he did not have a say in the implementation of the questionable cash advances of PhilHealth.

Sotto said violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code still applies to Duque because of his "abandonment or negligence."

"Mula noong March nagre-release kayo ng P14.8 billion hanggang June, chairman ka ng Board. Hindi mo alam? The chairman of the Board leads the agenda of the Board so hindi puwedeng sabihin na hindi mo alam," he said.

"O, pagpalagay na natin ‘di mo alam, it's not a good idea. I think Secretary Duque should get a good lawyer because he's practically admitting guilt to [Article] 217 pag sinabi niyang 'di niya alam," he added.

Duque said the Senate Committee of the Whole "made baseless findings on mere allegations alone." He also emphasized that he was a "non-voting" chairman in the PhilHealth board.

"I was impleaded on the IRM (interim reimbursement mechanism) when I was not even part of the deliberation and did not sign the said resolution. Ni anino nung aking pirma ay hindi makita," he said.

Duque also mentioned that "this is not the best time for the Executive to have a difference with the Legislative branch."

But Sotto said it is likewise not the best time to embezzle public funds.

"Mas malaking kasalanan at napakasama ng mangyayari kapag ang Senado nagpikit-mata dito. Kitang-kita natin ang nangyayari. Now is also not the best time to improperly distribute public fund," he said.

"'Di maaalis sa isip ng mga tao na ibinulsa o may nagbulsa nitong perang ito na P14.8 billion," he added.

Sotto reiterated that PhilHealth's Interim Reimbursement Mechanism releases from March 25 to June 9, 2020 were "illegal and invalid" due to late filing of circular to the UP Law Center's Office of National Administrative Register.

The Senate Committee of the Whole recommended the filing of charges against Duque, former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales, and several other executives in the state health insurer for the IRM mess and alleged overpriced IT equipment, among other issues.

Sotto said he hopes the panel's report would be approved in session on Wednesday. —AOL, GMA News