It’s the lawmakers’ decision if they push through with the complaints against the health chief over PhilHealth fiasco, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
However, Duque made an appeal to officials to observe due process if they go through with it.
“But I would like to appeal… should they decide to file a complaint against me with the Ombudsman, I trust that the due process will be observed by the Ombudsman and by everyone— until all the pieces of evidence are really established,” Duque said.
This was a response to the latest remark of Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson who said the Senate may decide to file its own cases before the Ombudsman.
The Department of Justice confirmed the Senate is free to file their own complaints.
“Nothing prevents the Senate or the House from initiating their own complaints against erring PhilHealth officials. Both the executive and legislative branches, representing the interest of the people, are duty-bound to rid any government agency or entity of corruption and wrongdoing,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement.
Duque was not included from the DOJ-led task force’s list of recommended PhilHealth executives to be charged.
