Senators tighten grip on need to probe alleged PhilHealth corruption

Several senators on Friday expressed a firm position that the alleged corruption within the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) must be taken up in a Senate investigation, especially now that the country is fighting a pandemic.

In the wake of the reported resignations of three PhilHealth officials over alleged irregularities, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said a "full-blown" inquiry must be held.

"Allegations and denials abound therefore diligence is necessary. Where there is smoke, there is fire!" Sotto said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also underscored the over P220 billion PhilHealth fund as of April 2020 must be protected.

He said the corruption within the state health insurer is already akin to a "state of emergency."

"It is not every day that we see key officials resigning from their posts one after the other. We will get to the bottom of this. We are watching you, PhilHealth,"  he said.

"The administration cannot just sweep it in under the rug. This should be immediately investigated. The Senate should prioritize the investigation when it resumes session next week," he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier bared that a Senate investigation is underway.

Special audit

Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara, chair of the finance committee, also urged the Commission on Audit to do a special audit.

"A big chunk of taxpayer money goes to PhilHealth every year to be directed for the people’s health and the implementation of Universal Health care," he said. "As it is, funds are hardly suffficient and corruption would make this worse and is really criminal."

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, who leads the committee on health, dared the PhilHealth leadership to "shape up or ship out" as he stressed the need for prudent use of its funds.

"Pera po ng taumbayan 'yan. Ibalik dapat sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyong medikal. Ni piso ay hindi dapat manakaw o masayang," he said.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the committee on labor, said the "stench" of corruption cannot be simply ignored.

"If the allegations are true, this is an unconscionable betrayal of the public trust. I support any move to investigate PhilHealth," he said.

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said he would also quiz the state health insurer about other issues.

"Why do funds deplete so fast? And why are there, at the same time, so many complaints from hospitals that they are not being reimbursed promptly?" he asked.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, demanded accountability.

"Kung may napatunayang tiwali at sinasamantala ang pandemya para kumita, dapat lang na panagutin sa batas," she said.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque revealed that PhilHealth officials are being investigated for the alleged overpriced purchase of an IT system worth over P2 billion.

PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales has since denied allegations of corruption and even dared one of the supposed PhilHealth officials who have resigned to back up his claims.

PhilHealth spokesperson Gigi Domingo said their office has yet to officially receive the supposed resignation letter of an anti-fraud officer which surfaced on Thursday night.

Before the issue broke out, the agency recommended to postpone the implementation of the Universal Health Care law as well as to postpone the expansion of the primary care benefit, noting the drop in collections due to COVID-19.

Nonetheless, it assured that it has enough funds to sustain operations this year amid the pandemic. — RSJ, GMA News