Amid the controversies, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte is considering abolishing or privatizing health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
The Senate President revealed this Thursday after Duterte met with Sotto and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday in Malacañang.
“Sinabi niya [Duterte] na gusto niyang i-abolish o isapribado ang PhilHealth,” Sotto said.
“[B]ut I said it might be better to wait a few months and see how the new admin performs,” he added.
Sotto was referring to the leadership of the newly-elected PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran, who previously served in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The Palace first explained its decision to appoint Gierran, saying he could eliminate corruption and take care of insurance as he was an accountant and lawyer.
In August, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo passed House Bill 7429, which seeks to privatize some branches of PhilHealth to make it more effective in serving Filipinos.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved Monday the senate’s recommendation to file graft case, malversation of public funds, and other cases against PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales and other agency officials connected with the alleged corruption – which could have reached P100 billion, said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
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Duterte thinking of PhilHealth abolition, privatization – Sotto
It will be recalled that Morales resigned from PhilHealth due to contracted lymphoma, which is a type of cancer.
Meanwhile, Duterte allegedly agreed with Sotto’s suggestion to let the secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) lead the PhilHealth board rather than Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
He said the senator’s proposal is attached to his Senate Bill 1829 on Monday, which would amend Section 13 of the Universal Health Care Law.
“I explained that PhilHealth is an insurance corp and not a Health entity,” Sotto explained.
Just a few days ago, Sotto questioned the president’s decision not to include Duque in charges against the mentioned PhilHealth officials, even though he is the current chairperson of PhilHealth.