Press Release
August 21, 2009

Gordon to DBM: Show up or face contempt

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should attend the next Senate hearing on the issue of health insurance coverage of Filipinos or else, they would be cited in contempt.

Gordon, who was present during the Senate committee hearing on health insurance, said that DBM officials should explain why the government incurred a P19.2-billion debt to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).

During the committee hearing, Philhealth officials disclosed that the national government owes P19.2-billion to Philhealth, which could affect its delivery of service to millions of its members and could cause the state-run corporation's bankruptcy.

Gordon said he is fully supportive of universal insurance and stressed that it is important that the government immediately address the problem of Philhealth.

"The DBM officials should be at the hearing to explain all of these things. This issue is very important for our employees. First they should explain why they did not attend the hearing. If they do not give us a satisfactory explanation, I move that they be declared in contempt," he said.

The senator explained that a person, upon invitation of the Senate, could be cited in contempt if he does not show up or fails to explain why he was not able to appear before the Senate.

Gordon has consistently upheld the integrity of the Senate when he cited in contempt witnesses or resource persons who try to undermine the authority of the Senate.

During the 13th Congress, Gordon cited former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio in contempt and ordered his detention for refusing to answer questions during a Senate investigation on the Philippine Communications Satellite Inc. (Philcomsat).

Meanwhile, during the Senate investigation on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, Gordon cited in contempt former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante and businessman Jaime "Jimmy" Paule for evasive and false testimonies.

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