Sen. Richard Gordon, the head of Philippine Red Cross, manifested that PhilHealth should be investigated for its huge debt to the non-government organization for the COVID-19 tests it has conducted.
The PRC earlier announced it would halt PhilHealth-funded coronavirus testing due to the state insurer’s P1 billion outstanding bill as of Friday, October 16.
PhilHealth said the delay was due to the review being conducted on its partnership with PRC as the state insurer faces several corruption allegations.
Gordon on Sunday warned PhilHealth officials against speaking ill of the NGO amid a supposed investigation by the state insurer.
“Nakakapundi talaga yung sasabihin, meron kaming sinisiyasat. Kami ba may kasalanan o kayo? Kayo ang lumapit, di naman kami,” Gordon said.
[It irks me when they say they are investigating something. Is it our fault or yours? You’re the one who approached us.]
“Dapat sila imbestigahin ba’t di nila binabayaran. Ayoko sanang pumasok, marami akong nalalaman dyan. Ayoko lang sabihin na pinepuwersa natin sila. Pero meron akong mga dokumentong na hawak na nag-overprice sila dun sa tinatawag natin test kits.”
[They should be the ones investigated for not paying the PRC. I don’t want to get involved because I know many things. I don’t want it to seem like we’re forcing them. But I have documents showing they had overpriced test kits.]
Over 1 million coronavirus tests, or about a fourth of the Philippines’ 3.8 million tests so far, were done by PRC.
