Duterte 'cleared' Duque of wrongdoing in PhilHealth mess, says Lacson

President Rodrigo Duterte virtually "cleared" Health Secretary Francsico Duque III of any wrongdoing when he told him not to resign despite being implicated in the PhilHealth mess, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday.

"With his appointed chief investigator to his right and one of those being accused in the PhilHealth mess to his left, he cleared the accused of any wrongdoing. End of story," Lacson said on Twitter.

Lacson made several exposés on the questionable interim reimbursement mechanism of PhilHealth and the alleged overpricing of IT equipment during the Senate inquiry.

He was also one of the 14 senators who called for the resignation of Duque in April for alleged failure of leadership in leading the country's COVID-19 pandemic response — a call that was brushed aside by the Cabinet official.

Last year, Lacson bared the possible conflict of interest on Duque's part in the PhilHealth's lease in his family property, and the state health insurer's alleged dealings with a company also owned by their family. Duque denied the allegations.

In a recorded address to the nation aired Monday night, Duterte assured Duque of his full trust and said the latter should not leave his post amid the latest PhilHealth controversies.

Duque, chair of the PhilHealth Board, thanked Duterte and opened up about his feelings about being accused in the "illegal and improper" implementation of the IRM.

Duque thanked Duterte and opened up about his feelings about being accused in the "illegal and improper" implementation of PhilHealth's interim reimbursement mechanism.

"'Yung mga pumirma, hindi naman sila ni-recommend for filing of the cases. 'Yung hindi pumirma, 'yun lang ang idinawit. Bakit naman ganon? Height of injustice, unfairness," Duque had said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra, who leads the inter-agency task force investigating the alleged PhilHealth irregularities, was also present during the briefing.

In a separate message, Lacson acknowledged that the executive is an independent branch of the government and is not bound by the Senate's findings in the PhilHealth mess.

"While the just adopted committee of the whole report contains recommendations involving the filing of charges against several philhealth officials including its chairman who is Sec. Duque, it bears watching how the DOJ-led task force will treat those findings and recommendations now that the President has virtually cleared Duque of any wrongdoing," he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, said Duterte should take time to read the report and talk to senators regarding their findings.

"The President should talk to us and not just listen to the excuses. Better yet, [Executive Secretary] should have the President read the Senate report," Sotto said in a message.

The Senate adopted the Committee of the Whole's report on Monday, upholding that Duque and former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales, along with other executives, should face criminal and administrative charges.

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