DOH chief: No PhilHealth cards distributed during Team PNoy's Bohol sortie

Health Secretary Enrique Ona denied on Thursday that PhilHealth cards were distributed during a campaign sortie in Bohol by President Benigno Aquino III to promote administration senatorial bets.

 

At a press briefing in Manila, Ona said that upon looking into the matter, the cards in question were forms of health assistance by local government officials in the area.

 

“So in essence, hindi PhilHealth iyon but it’s a local assistance in health na binibigay ng mga LGU officials,” he told reporters.

 

On Wednesday, party-list group Anakpawis asked the Commission on Elections to investigate the alleged distribution of goods, including PhilHealth cards, by Aquino and some administration bets while they were on a campaign sortie.

 

“The distribution of such medical assistance should have been done by public health officials on ordinary days and not by the President and his allies currently on the campaign trail in connection with the May 13 polls,” Pedro Gonzalez said.

 

Gonzalez is from the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya and also an Anakpawis member.

 

Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said he will answer the letter “in due time.”

 

Also on Wednesday, Malacañang released a statement decrying the insinuations as statements that “reek of a malicious, anti-people mindset that aims to cast aside our people's welfare for the sake of a few soundbites.” 

 

“PhilHealth never sanctioned the release of their benefits in the alleged Bohol campaign activity; no PhilHealth representative was present during the distribution of supposed health cards, which, upon investigation, were not even from PhilHealth,” the Palace statement read.

 

On the issue that PhilHealth cards were given to Moro Islamic Liberation Front beneficiaries, the Palace statement said this was part of the Sajahatra program, “as a gesture to build good will and sustain the forward momentum of the peace process.”

 

The Palace statement further said the national administration was never involved in an incident in Bohol where rice was given by local executives.

 

The Palace also clarified that government road and other infrastructure projects are being sped up precisely to ensure their benefits are felt before the election ban takes place. — RSJ, GMA News