Press Release
August 30, 2020

Bong Go says next PhilHealth chief's mission is to eradicate systemic corruption in the agency once and for all

Senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Christopher "Bong" Go says it should be the mission of the next Philippine Health Insurance Corporation chief to restore the integrity of PhilHealth in order to give Filipinos the assurance that people's money are being spent to improve access to quality health services rather than being stolen due to corruption.

"Mag-move on na dapat ang PhilHealth. Ang papalit ay 'yung talagang ang maririnig po ng tao ay ilang pasyente na ang natulungan ng PhilHealth at hindi ang nagbibilang kung ilan ang nananakaw. Iyon po ang gustong marinig ng Filipino, at 'yun ang hinahanap ng Pangulo [Rodrigo Duterte], na tuloy tuloy na po ang serbisyo at wala pong masasayang ni piso," the Senator remarked during a radio interview on Saturday, August 29.

"By Monday po, maaaring ianunsyo [ng Pangulo] kung sino po itong taong ito [na papalit]," he added.

Go challenged whoever the President will appoint as the next PhilHealth chief to balance improving PhilHealth services to the public while putting an end to the perennial issues of deep-rooted, systemic corruption plaguing the state health insurance agency for years.

"Dapat pilayan ang magnanakaw sa baba. Sabi ko nga kung pwedeng putulan ng daliri isa-isa. Kung nagnakaw ng sampung beses, putulin ang dalawang kamay. Kung sobra pa putulin na ang paa at kung sobra pa putulin na lahat," he said emphasizing how corrupt government employees should be dealt with and be held accountable.

When asked for the qualifications he would seek in the agency's next president, Go noted the need for the individual to have courage, integrity, political will and a zero-tolerance policy for corruption. He pointed out that former PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales was similarly recognized for his integrity and boldness during his long career in the Army.

"Sanay na po siya sa pag-iimbestiga, 'yun lang po pagkakaala ko maaaring silent worker lang po itong napupusuan ni Pangulong Duterte," Go described.

"More on mayroong will power to clean PhilHealth. Talagang marunong magkuwenta. Ibig sabihin ho nito ang pondo para sa region na ito, sa ospital na ito, ito lang ang kailangan, parang accountant na marunong talaga at may bayag na sugpuin ang anomalya sa baba," he added.

On his part, the Senator vowed to fight for the agency which is an integral component of the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act and the Philippines' pandemic recovery.

He disclosed the multi-agency task force created by President Duterte to investigate the allegations of corruption will soon proceed to consolidating its findings and submit their recommendations to the Office of the President regarding the necessary actions to take.

The Senator encouraged government employees to cooperate and support the efforts of Task Force - PhilHealth in the conduct of its investigation. He also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to go after and file criminal charges against public officials found neglecting their duty, including the officials currently being investigated for alleged graft and corruption in the distribution of cash aid under the social amelioration program.

"Nabanggit ni Secretary [Menardo] Guevarra na they will wind up their hearings and proceed to consolidate with their findings and submit to the President and for legal action. Tuloy tuloy pa rin ang investigation sa ibang cases," said Go.

"I'm urging the Ombudsman to file charges (against) as many as possible not only sa PhilHealth, kundi pati dito sa amelioration for neglect of duty. Dapat ang Ombudsman sampolan nila ang lahat ng involved sa corruption," he continued.

Go strongly recommended imposing preventive suspensions for all officials allegedly involved in what he describes as "systemic and systematic corrupt acts" within the agency that adversely affect the quality of public service and destroy the morale of other employees in the bureaucracy.

"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.

Go emphasized that the Duterte Administration remains focused on cleansing government and improving the services provided that every Filipino deserves.

"Maraming matitinong empleyado at gusto lang magserbisyo. Masarap ang pakiramdam pag nakatulong ka sa kapwa mo... Pero mayroon talagang mga grupo, mga sira ulo dyan sa baba na patuloy na nagpapalusot. Iyon ang gustong mangyari ni Pangulo, hindi lang po linisin, ipapakulong niya talaga ang mga ito," he said.

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