The Department of Health (DOH) is “very grateful” to President Rodrigo R. Duterte for trusting Secretary Francisco T. Duque III even as it welcomed the decision of the task force probing the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) mess.
In an online media forum, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the country is facing a challenge to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and that the shift in leadership in the DOH should not be the priority.
“So, we welcome it and we are very grateful and hopefully from hereon we can continue to work,” Vergeire said when asked to comment after Duque was not included in the list of those former and current officials of PhilHealth that will be charged.
Vergeire said that they are more at ease to work now because of the “welcome development” on the issue.
Duque, she said, supports the filling of charges PhilHealth officials on their alleged involvement in the anomalies in the agency.
Vergeire said that Duque and PhilHealth are always open to any investigation.
“Secretary Duque has always reiterated that he supports this kind of move saka-sakaling mapapatunayan sa [if ever this will be proven in] proper court of law pag may issues tayo o gaps ang ating mga opisyal, ang nararapat na sanctions ay dapat ibigay so, suportado ito ni Secretary Duque [ if our officials have issues or gaps and if the proper sanction will be meted out, then Secretary Duque supports this],” Vergeire added.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila