
President Rodrigo Duterte is considering the abolition of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. due to alleged corruption within the firm, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, leaders of both chambers of the Congress met with the president where they discussed the Universal Health Care Act, the PhilHealth Law as well as possible amendments to the Anti-Red Tape Law.
“He said he wanted PhilHealth abolished or privatized but I said it might be better to wait a few months and see how the new admin performs,” Sotto said. “I explained that PhilHealth is an insurance corp and not a Health entity.”
Sotto was referring to former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran who has been appointed by Duterte as the new PhilHhealth president and chief executive officer.
Despite recommendations from the Senate to file charges against PhilHealth officials, including Duque, Duterte has refused to fire the health chief, saying negligence is not enough reason to fire him.
“Kung hindi ka corrupt (If you are not corrupt), wala ka namang, you don’t have any reason to resign,” Duterte said.