Zubiri, Tulfo demand explanation from Duque over PhilHealth issues

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri stated that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III needs to provide explanations regarding the recurring controversies surrounding PhilHealth, given his position as chairman of its Board of Directors.

Zubiri emphasized that Duque, as the head of the PhilHealth Board, should be privy to the decisions and transactions made by the state health insurer.

He pointed out that certain decisions cannot be implemented by the President and Chief Executive Officer without the board's approval.

Zubiri specifically raised concerns about Duque's approval of PhilHealth's Internal Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic, which provides funds to healthcare facilities affected by unforeseen events.

The Commission on Audit reported that most of the P14.97 billion released under the IRM has yet to be liquidated by PhilHealth.

Representative Jocelyn Tulfo of ACT-CIS party-list urged Duque to break his silence on the P15 billion worth of questionable cash advances released by PhilHealth, noting that these funds went to dialysis centers and hospitals in areas with no high incidence of COVID-19.

Tulfo stated that if Duque is incapable of making a simple statement regarding the status of the corporation he is in charge of, then he is no longer fit to act as PhilHealth Chairman.