JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra shrugged off on Tuesday President Duterte’s statement calling Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III an “innocent man” in connection with the ongoing investigation into Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) financial woes.
Guevarra said he believes that the statement was not intended to clear Duque of any criminal, or administrative liability, over the alleged misuse of PhilHealth’s multibillion fund.
He noted that various government agencies belonging to the Task Force (TF) PhilHealth are still pursuing other areas of corruption in the agency and would likely file additional cases against more personalities in the future.
“I view the President’s statement as an expression of trust, not of exoneration. If evidence should turn up against anyone, regardless of position, I believe that the President, who has prosecutorial blood running in his veins, will not impede the legal process from taking its due course,” Guevarra said.
While the TF PhilHealth has initially filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against nine former and incumbent PhilHealth officials last October 2, the task force intends to file additional complaints against other erring officials since they are still investigating other leads and still in process of gathering evidence.
Last Monday, the President said that he had been advised to let Duque go since he has become a “burden” to his administration.
But the President, himself lawyer, said he is aware of what is needed to be able to file a case.
President Duterte said he has read the findings of the report and could not find enough ground to prosecute Duque, and even referred to him as an innocent man.
Aside from being the health secretary, Duque is also the PhilHealth’s chairman of the board.
“The DOJ will simply continue what it has been directed by the President to do; that is, to bring any and all lawbreakers at PhilHealth before the bar of justice,” Guevarra vowed.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dante A. Gierran assured that complaints filed against agency former officials will not affect its operations.
In a news statement, Gierran welcomed the filing of a complaint by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the Office of the Ombudsman against nine former officials regarding issues surrounding the use of Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) funds.
Gierran said the filing of the complaint means that the matter of the IRM funds will now be properly heard and former PhilHealth officials will be given the proper forum to defend themselves.
“The matter will now be properly heard and looked into by the Ombudsman and that the concerned officers will now have the opportunity to be heard and defend themselves against allegations of fund misuse,” Gierran said.
“[PhilHealth] appeals to everyone to let the said complaint take its due course without casting undue conclusion and judgment to those involved,” he added.
In August 2019, the NBI filed criminal cases against 21 officials and employees of PhilHealth before the DOJ in connection with the fraudulent claims for payment of dialysis and other medical treatment of PhilHealth members and beneficiaries.
The respondents, according to the NBI, gave unwarranted benefits to Wellmed in violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Aside from violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practice Act, the NBI is also seeking the prosecution of the respondents for violation of the provision of RA 10606 and RA 6713 also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.