Senate panel recommends charges vs Duque, Morales over PhilHealth anomalies

Updated Fri, September 4, 2020 at 3:54 PM Published Tue, September 1, 2020 at 5:19 PM

The Senate Committee of the Whole recommended filing malversation and other criminal charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and resigned PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales for alleged improper and illegal implementation of the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM).

The committee also recommended President Duterte appoint a new Department of Health (DOH) secretary with a stronger will to fight corruption.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III asserted that Duque is liable for abandonment or negligence as the chair of the PhilHealth board, stating his claim of ignorance incriminates him.

The committee uncovered issues such as "shoddy or shady" payments under the IRM, an allegedly overpriced ICT procurement plan, and irregularities in PhilHealth's legal sector.

Duque decried the findings as baseless, reiterated he had no say in the IRM deliberations or approval, and vowed to clear his name by cooperating with any investigation.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that Duque will cooperate in any investigation.

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Department of Health PhilHealth Vicente "Tito" Sotto III Maria Rosario Vergeire Francisco Duque III

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