The chief prober in the ongoing Senate probe into the so-called “PhilHealth-PhilWealth” fund anomaly is inclined to endorse a “dedicated” anti-fraud unit to fix the problem at PhilHealth.
Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon inquiry triggered by Senator Panfilo Lacson’s expose of the PhilHealth mess, signalled his inclination as Senate probers resumed their inquiry on Thursday.
“An independent body, that is what we are proposing…a dedicated anti-fraud body,” Gordon said in an interivew before the convening yesterday’s hearing.
Speaking at the inquiry into the PhilHealth controversy, neophyte Senator Christopher Bong Go noted there were several allegations aired about erroneous use of public funds intended for those in need.
“This is not new,” said Go. “This is not the first time that PhilHealth had been implicated, but if they (perpetrators) were able to get away, not any more.”
But Go vowed that this time, they will make sure that those behnd the fund mess will be made to answer when cases are filed and perpetrators are sent to jail.
He recalled that in the past, “nothing happened after an investigation came up with no results because those involved just pointed at each other, making up many reasons without solutions that people got tired.”
Go said even President Duterte is exasperated with the corruption cases invloving many government agencies.
He said he will see to it those responsible for misusing public funds will be made to answer for their deeds.
“Inuulit ko – pera ng taumbayan ang pondo ng PhilHealth. Galing ‘yan sa mga taong nagpapakahirap sa trabaho at umaasang mabigyan nang maayos na serbisyo kapag sila ay nagkakasakit. Ang pera ng PhilHealth members ay dapat ibalik sa kanila. Pera ng mga maysakit, ninanakaw pa ng iilan. Araw-araw daan-daang libong kababayan natin ang nakaratay sa ospital at nasa bingit ng kamatayan at sila ay umaasa sa PhilHealth, tapos kayo ninanakaw n’yo lang.“