MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson is set to file a Senate resolution seeking an investigation into the alleged anomalies involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Lacson said in a radio interview that he has gathered strong evidence where PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales has no other course but to step down from his position if he cannot credibly refute the allegations of “widespread corruption.”
Lacson’s resolution focuses on three major issues on alleged corruption: the anomalous implementation of the interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) of PhilHealth, the questionable insertions for the purchase of an ICT equipment worth P734 million, and the supposed manipulation of the agency’s financial statement.
“Unless ma-refute niya ito credibly itong mga alegasyon dito, na sabi ko nga may mga dokumento, walang ibang dapat puntahan kundi mag-resign. So far, at face value, sasabihin ko totoo ito dahil supported by documents,” Lacson told DZBB.
According to the senator, PhilHealth had recently anomalously released a total of P247 million to three hospitals in the Bicol Region and another P196 million to two hospitals in Eastern Visayas, all tertiary level, only weeks after they applied through IRM, and even though they had only one COVID-19 patient.
There were also questionable insertions of PhilHealth in the purchase of ICT equipment, which Lacson said has already been flagged by the Commission on Audit.
Last week, three PhilHealth officials resigned from their posts over alleged corrupt practices in the agency. President Rodrigo Duterte has already ordered an investigation into these supposed anomalies./PN
