Duterte admits corruption still pervasive in the PHL

Corruption has remained pervasive in the country, as shown by the PhilHeath benefits paid to ghost claimants, President Rodrigo Duterte said in his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday.

“The recent uncovering of the massive fraud in PhilHealth proves corruption is pervasive. Huge amount of medical fund and padded medical claims were released for the imaginary treatment of patients. I am grossly disappointed,” said Duterte.

“These millions would have been used into illness to save the lives of many,” Duterte added.

Duterte, who said that the PhilHealth mess wasted as much as P100 billion in government funds that could have helped the needy, then commended the National Bureau of Investigation to speedily prosecute all those liable in the PhilHealth mess and vowed justice would be served before his term ended.

“Culprits will have a day of reckoning, and I hope that it happens during the last three years of my term,” Duterte said.

Further, the President said he will not treat corrupt officials with kid gloves as evidenced by his firing of officials for the last three years.

"I have fired or caused of resignation of 100 officials and appointees without regard to relationship, friendship or alliance," Duterte said.

"There will be no sacred cows," he added. — DVM/RSJ, GMA News