Bong Go challenges Gierran to end corruption while ensuring that Filipinos are given the best service from PhilHealth

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his confidence in newly appointed PhilHealth chief Atty. Dante Gierran's ability to resolve the perennial issues plaguing the agency, and urged him to finally put an end to the deep-rooted and systemic issue of corruption while ensuring the continuity of the agency's services.

"Bukod sa public health, ang mas malaking problema ng PhilHealth ngayon ay ang corruption. Paano natin matutulungan ang mga Pilipino kung ang pera na dapat pampagamot nila ay ninanakaw lang ng mga kurakot dyan. Kapag natigil ang corruption, mas makakaasa tayo na aayos ang serbisyo ng PhilHealth," Go explained.

Go defended the appointment of the former National Bureau of Investigations Director saying that Gierran is highly qualified for the job given his accounting and legal background, extensive experience in government, and most of all, a clean record aligned with the administration's zero-tolerance policy for corruption.

"Bilang former NBI director si Gierran, malalim ang kanyang karanasan sa pagsugpo sa anomalya. I believe he is more than qualified for this task. Umaasa akong gagawin nya ang lahat para matupad ang misyon na ibinigay sakanya ng Pangulo: Linisin ang ahensya, panagutin ang may sala, at ibigay ang dapat ibigay na serbisyo sa tao," Go said.

Go also explained that for PhilHealth to be able to improve public health services, officials must first ensure that the people's money intended for this purpose is secured.

"Kailangan linisin muna ang PhilHealth para maibigay ng ahensya ang serbisyong dapat matanggap ng mga Pilipino dahil pera ng mga tao 'yang pinangangalagaan nila," Go stressed.

"Naghihirap ang mga Pilipino na mag-ambag dyan dahil umaasa sila na kapag dumating ang panahon na nangangailangan sila, mayroon silang lalapitan. Hindi dapat manakaw o masayang 'yan lalo na sa panahon na may hinaharap tayong pandemya," he added.

Go implored Gierran to take to heart the words of President Rodrigo Duterte to rid the agency of corrupt officials, restore public trust, and ensure that people's taxes are spent prudently on improving the delivery and quality of services, especially during this time of crisis.

"To Atty. Dante Gierran, dati po itong NBI Director, sana ay palagi mong isapuso ang sinabi ng ating Pangulo - narinig ko po iyon - at ang mandato natin bilang mga public servants. Your job is to stop corruption. Hutda sila. Putla ilang kamot. Bisaya 'yon, bahala na kayong umintindi. Sa English, do your best. Ang marching orders sayo ng Pangulo ay linisin mo ang ahensya but also ensure that the public gets the best services from PhilHealth," said Go.

"Ang magiging misyon mo ay ibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa PhilHealth at siguraduhin na ang pondo ay magagamit sa tama para mabigyan ng maayos na serbisyo ang mga Pilipino, lalo na pagdating sa kalusugan," he added.

Go warned those involved in deep-rooted, systemic and systematic corruption that the full force of the law will be used by the government to hold them accountable and put them in jail.

"Sa mga magnanakaw sa PhilHealth, inuulit ko. Hindi natatapos ito sa pagsuspinde o pagsibak sa inyo. Sisiguraduhin namin na mananagot kayo sa batas at makukulong kayo. As long as there are people like you in government, we will not stop in our efforts to remove rotten eggs like you who are destroying public service and the public's trust in government," warned Go.

"Sabi ko nga noon, kung hindi lang magagalit ang human rights advocates, dapat pilayan o putulin ang daliri o kamay ng mga corrupt para matigil talaga ang kalokohan," he continued.

Go said that the fight against corruption must continue in order to ensure Filipinos that the people's money will be spent properly. He described systemic corruption like a sickness that must be cured in order to protect the integrity of government institutions and provide the public the kind of service they deserve.

"Ang walang katapusang corruption ay para ring pandemya. Kailangan talaga magkaroon ng bakuna o gamot na tatalab laban sa sakit na korapsyon na sumisira sa kalidad ng serbisyo at integridad ng gobyerno. Marami naman sa gobyerno na honest at gusto lang po magsilbi sa kanilang kapwa Pilipino. Huwag nating hayaang mahawaan sila ng sakit na ito," said Go.

On Tuesday during the Senate's regular session, senators tackled the Committee Report of the Senate Committee of the Whole on its investigations on alleged anomalies in PhilHealth. Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, commended his colleagues and expressed support on the findings presented.

"Dahil sa efforts natin dito sa Senado, lahat po, lumabas ang katotohanan. After numerous hearings, heads will finally roll. Less than two years na lang sa pwesto ang ating Pangulo, at sana ay patuloy po tayong magtulungan para tuluyang masugpo ang corruption," said Go.

"I urge my colleagues to continue helping the administration in cleansing government. Kung may nakikita tayong katiwalian, ilabas natin dito. Hindi tayo nagtatapos sa PhilHealth lamang. May mga ibang ahensya pa dyan na may problema ng korapsyon sa loob at sa baba. Tuluyan na natin," he also said.