Duterte lost confidence in PhilHealth execs by asking them to resign — Roque
Credit to Author: mfrialde| Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2019 02:24:29 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — By asking PhilHealth officials to resign over the dialysis controversy, President Rodrigo Duterte has “lost confidence” in them, lawyer Harry Roque said Tuesday.
READ: PhilHealth execs asked to submit courtesy resignation over dialysis mess
“I think the fact that the President asked for them (PhilHealth officials) to resign shows that he may have lost trust and confidence in them already and that he wants a free hand in the organization,” Roque said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.
However, Roque, who is the legal counsel of two whistleblowers who exposed that PhilHealth is paying for the dialysis treatment claims of already dead patients at a dialysis center, said the PhilHealth officials are expected to perform their duties until the President has accepts their courtesy resignations.
READ: PhilHealth execs asked to submit courtesy resignation over dialysis mess
“Pending acceptance, then they should continue discharging their duties,” he said.
Last week, the Philippine Daily Inquirer bared that Quezon City-based WellMed Clinic had filed “ghost” dialysis treatment claims with PhilHealth as revealed by a former employee of the center.
The clinic allegedly filed and received payments from PhilHealth for dialysis treatments even though some of the patients who supposedly have undergone dialysis treatments, have already died.
READ: PhilHealth pays for ghost kidney treatments
President Duterte earlier announced that he would “reorganize” PhilHealth amid the scandal which he claimed cost the government more than P100 billion.
READ: Duterte orders arrest of Well Med owner, mulls PhilHealth overhaul
However, Duterte said he does not have the “slightest doubt about the integrity and honesty” of Ferrer as he was among those who have been “budging” for the prosecution of those who abuse the privileges of the state health insurance company. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)