DAVAO CITY (June 11) —- President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night (June 10) met the officials of the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Malacañang Palace.
Last Friday Duterte revealed, “I have been reading about it that it was losing, that there were so many fraudulent…But I could — I did not have the idea of the amount involved in the loss. So ‘yung nabasa ko and also copying the words of the newspapers, say that hemorrhaging, dumudugo na. The only way to stop it is to be — go to a doctor and have it — have yourself operated on.”
Duterte added “If it’s the arterial that they are messing up and that is the capital of… What is really worse is it’s public money. So I am very strict. I do not want to hurt people. At this time, I do not have the evidence or proof so that I am not in a position to say that there’s government men involved.”
“Pero ‘yung mga hospital nagcha-charge na maski wala na ‘yung pasyente o ‘yung mga dialysis patients, ‘yun sila ang nagfa-file ng fraudulent claim. That’s fraud. So sila ‘yung unahin ko. But I’m looking into any culpability of an employee of government joining or in cahoots or in conspiracy,” Duterte added.
On Monday, Senator-elect Bong Go in a press conference said the President wants members of the PhilHealth Board to tender their resignation following the alleged massive fraudulent claims by some dialysis centers which raked millions of out dead patients.
During the same forum, Go said “Tapusin ang dapat tapusing imbestigasyon. At kasuhan ang mga dapat makasuhan. Hindi natin palalampasin ang mga ganitong pagnanakaw at paglulustay sa pera ng taumbayan. Pera ito na dapat sana ay magamit pa sa mga tunay na nangangailangan nating mga kababayan.”
Last night, the President met the Philhealth officials, details of said meeting is not yet available as of this posting.