Bong Go to Ombudsman: Probe PhilHealth

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairman of the health and demography committee quizzed officials of state insurance company Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on alleged corruption within the agency following its alleged failure to release insurance claims to its accredited hospitals and alleged overpriced expenditures, among other issues.

During a hearing of the 24-member Senate, convened as the Committee of the Whole, Go questioned PhilHealth officials for their failure to resolve the alleged issues within the agency. He also demanded the removal of corrupt officials from the government-owned corporation.

“Paano ninyo magagamot mga pasyente kung sarili ninyong ahensya ‘di n’yo magamot? Kailangan talaga ‘yang mga korap tanggalin na talaga (How can you cure the patients when you cannot cure [problems] in your own agency? There’s really a need to fire the corrupt),” he said.

Go then asked the Ombudsman to look deeply into the matter. “I urge the Ombudsman to investigate para malaman natin kung sino ang mga dapat managot. Please get to the bottom of this mess. Kailangan nating malaman kung sino ang mga nasa likod ng kalokohan na ito, kung mayroon mang mga mafia, kung sino pa ang mga taong ito (…for us to know who should be made to answer for this. Please get to the bottom of this mess. We need to know who are those behind this mess, if there is a mafia, who are these people),” Go said.

The senator stressed that it is unacceptable that public funds intended to save lives are wasted due to corruption at a time when the country is facing a pandemic and PhilHealth, being the implementer of the Universal Health Care Law, claims that its funds are almost depleted.

“Handa ang gobyerno na tulungan ang PhilHealth kung kailangan ng pondo pero dapat managot ‘yung mga taong sangkot sa pagnanakaw ng pondo (The government is ready to help PhilHealth if it needs funds but those who are involved in stealing the funds should be made to answer for their acts). Enough is enough,” Go said.

The senator also vowed that individuals who will be proven guilty of corruption will be held responsible. “Sisiguraduhin po natin na mananagot ang dapat managot. Kasuhan ang dapat kasuhan. Ikulong ang dapat ikulong (We will ensure that those involved in this mess will have to answer for their wrongdoings. Charges will be filed and the guilty will be jailed).”

Source: TheManila Times