Lacson hopes Guevarra will uphold rule of law despite Duterte’s trust in Duque

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday clarified that he is not prejudging the criminal liability of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III after he mentioned that President Rodrigo Duterte "virtually cleared" the latter of wrongdoing in the PhilHealth mess.

Lacson, who exposed the alleged anomalous implementation of the interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) and overpricing of IT equipment in PhilHealth during the Senate hearings last month, said he trusts the work ethics of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra despite Duterte's opinion that Duque should not quit as Health Secretary.

"I would like to think that Secretary Guevarra’s known probity and strong adherence to the rule of law will prevail over partisanship and other political or personal considerations," he said in a message.

"Having said that, I am not prejudging Secretary Duque’s criminal liability, at least as far as the Committee of the Whole hearings," he added.

Lacson said he hopes the task force would continue to do its mandate, "guided only by their appreciation of the evidence no matter who is involved, with or without the President's expressed opinion on Secretary Duque."

Nevertheless, he brought to the fore the issues he raised against Duque in 2019 which he said are enough reasons for a change in Department of Health leadership.

"His conflict of interest in allowing his family-owned corporation to directly transact business with PhilHealth and DOH by leasing their property and supplying pharmaceutical products to the agencies which he heads was unarguably enough reason for a decent public official to tender his resignation, or for an appointing authority to take the most proper action," Lacson said.

Duque, for his part, has already denied the said allegations on conflict of interest last year.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who presided over the 28-hours worth of Senate hearings on PhilHealth, maintained Duque's undeniable negligence in the "improper and illegal" implementation of the IRM or cash advances to health care institutions, emphasizing that Duque is the chairperson of the PhilHealth Board.

"Board governs Philhealth. They disburse P14.8 B in three pandemic months illegally. DOH Secretary is unmistakably and irreplaceably the Chair. Ano, wala siya kinalaman? Aba... Congrats! BILLIONS!!!" Sotto said.

Having held key positions in the PhilHealth management since 2001, Duque denied hands in the implementation of the IRM, invoking that he is currently a non-voting chairman of its Board. He also refuted allegations that he was the "godfather" of the "mafia" within the state health insurer.

The Senate report, adopted on Monday, upheld that Duque and former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales should be slapped with charges over the recently unearthed PhilHealth controversies.

The DOJ-led task force, meanwhile, is expected to submit its report to Duterte by September 14.

Duterte previously committed to go after erring officials involved in the PhilHealth mess. — RSJ, GMA News