President Duterte ordered the creation of a task force on Friday to investigate and impose sanctions against erring officials and personnel of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
In an online news briefing, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced the President has issued a memorandum ordering the Department of Justice (DOJ) to lead the newly created task force, which will be also vested with the power to “investigate, prosecute, punish” PhilHealth officials and personnel allegedly involved in anomalies. The task force will also be vested with the power to recommend to the President the imposition of preventive suspensions.
Duterte made the new issuance amid an ongoing Senate hearing on PhilHealth, which uncovered more purported irregularities within the controversial government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC).
Citing the wording of the new memorandum, Roque said the President is already “exasperated” over the supposed continuing anomalies in PhilHealth.
Aside from DOJ, he said, the task force will also include the Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, and Office of the Special Assistant to the President Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain.
Last week, Malacañang announced it has instructed Quitain to also probe PhilHealth’s alleged overpriced purchase of P2 billion worth of information-technology (IT) items.
Roque said PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales and other officials and employees under him will be given the chance to explain their side to the task force.
However, he noted it’s already “moot and academic” for Morales to personally try to explain his side to the President following the creation of the task force.
“The President is now concerned in gathering information and probably the legal remedy done [by PhilHealth].” Roque said.
To recall, Morales took over the leadership of PhilHealth after its previous head, Roy Ferrer, was asked by President Duterte to resign also because of supposed anomalies within the GOCC.
Duterte ordered task force to submit its findings and recommendation, including proposed legal action against liable PhilHealth officials and employees to the Office of President after 30 days from its constitution on August 7, 2020.