Bong Go asks NBI to help protect PhilHealth documents and preserve integrity of probe; tells authorities to arrest those attempting to hide or destroy evidence

Upon receiving reports of alleged tampering and destruction of documents in several PhilHealth regional offices, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go immediately asked the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday, August 21, to act on the matter to help protect the integrity of the government's investigation into systemic and systematic corruption within the agency.

"Nakakuha po tayo ng mga balita na may mga nagtatangkang sirain o itago ang mga dokumento sa mga PhilHealth regional offices na posibleng maging ebidensya ng anomalya. Sinabihan ko po agad ang NBI na silipin ito at siguraduhin na walang magagalaw upang maprotektahan ang integridad ng imbestigasyon ng task force," he said.

Go stressed that the National Bureau of Investigation updated him on Friday night that their officers are already monitoring PhilHealth regional offices in order to secure all documents and possible evidence that may be useful to the probe.

"The NBI said that they will also conduct an inventory of all cases being handled by PhilHealth regional legal offices in order to secure documents including affidavits and hospital records. They will also secure possible witnesses," Go said based on his discussions with Eric Distor, NBI officer-in-charge.

Go also urged authorities to arrest and prosecute anyone caught attempting unauthorized removal or destruction of PhilHealth public records especially those related to cases being investigated.

"Kaya nga ilang beses ko nang sinabi----pilayan, putulan ng daliri upang hindi na makagalaw. Gamitin dapat ng task force ang ngipin nito para matigil ang kalokohan na nangyayari sa PhilHealth," Go emphatically said.

"Yung mga magtatangkang magtago ng ebidensya, dapat talaga maparusahan upang hindi na makapagtago ang mga nagtatago, at hindi na makagalaw ang mga magnanakaw. Dapat lumabas ang katotohanan at mapanagot ang dapat managot," he added.

Earlier in the day, Distor disclosed that an order had been issued directing the deployment of agents to the various PhilHealth offices after they received reports of plans to destroy documentary evidence of wrongdoings.

"Nabalitaan namin sa Pangasinan sa Region 1 nasira daw 'yung mga dokumento dahil sa ulan. I'm urging the NBI task force to investigate kung mayroon bang kalokohan dito," said Go during an ambush interview on Friday in Davao City.

"Kung totoong umulan, okay lang po pero kung sinadyang sirain 'yung mga dokumento ay ibang usapan na po 'yan, dapat silang managot," Go said, adding "dapat malaman kung dulot lang ba talaga ito ng malakas na ulan, may kapabayaan bang naganap, o sadyang hinayaang masira ang mga dokumento."

"Tinatawagan ko ang pansin ng pamunuan ng PhilHealth. Ang laki laki ng pondo ninyo, tapos hindi niyo mapagawa ang bubong ng isang opisina ninyo! Gamitin niyo po sana ng tama ang pondo ninyo para sa pagpapaayos ng inyong mga opisina at ng inyong serbisyo sa tao," he urged.

Go explained that systemic and systematic corruption in government adversely affects the quality of public service and destroys the morale of other employees in the bureaucracy.

"Ito rin ang rason kaya nasabi ko na kapag mayroong malilikot ang daliri, dapat putulin. Kapag sa korapsyon napupunta ang pondo ng bayan, ganito ang nangyayari � apektado ang serbisyo sa tao at kawawa ang mga empleyadong malilinis ang hangarin at nais lang maglingkod sa bayan," he said in a statement.

Go also warned that corruption also exists in the middle to lower levels of the bureaucracy. He urged authorities to impose preventive suspensions so that those involved in anomalies will not be able to influence the integrity of the ongoing probe.

"Gaya ng sinabi ko, kailangan munang pilayan ang mga magnanakaw para hindi na po makagalaw at para hindi na po sila maka-impluwensya sa imbestigasyon na gagawin po ng Task Force," said Go.

"May kalokohan talaga diyan sa baba na kahit apat na presidente na ang ipinalit ay patuloy pa rin 'yung katiwalian diyan sa loob at baba ng PhilHealth," he added.

Go, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, stressed that the investigation must lead to the prosecution of those responsible in order to fully reform PhilHealth.

"Dapat talaga may makulong, hindi lang yung imbestiga lang ng imbestiga tayo�Kaya sabi ko, kailangan putulin 'yung daliri eh, walang kadala-dala, wala pong nangyayari, kawawa 'yung mga Pilipino," he said.

"Isipin niyo 'yung mga OFWs natin. Nagpapadala ng remitances contribution nila sa PhilHealth. Pinaghirapan nila 'yon, pinagpawisan nila sa ibang bansa para makapag-contribute sa PhilHealth tapos mapupunta lang po sa katiwalian. So, hindi po pwedeng patuloy na may katiwalian sa PhilHealth," he continued.