Search

Sen. Zubiri urges preventive suspension for PhilHealth executives

Aug 23, 2020
1 min read

by Alyssandra Ysabel Z. Ramos

WEALTH OVER HEALTH. Controversy arose as PhilHealth, the health insurance company in the Philippines, faced a P15 billion corruption issue amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. © Tapia

To prevent high-ranking Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) officials from hampering the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Commission on Audit (COA), and other investigative bodies, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri endorsed a preventive suspension by filing Senate Resolution No. 502 last August 19.

Due to the controversial executives being linked to corruption within the agency, Zubiri stated that permitting PhilHealth officials to remain in their positions “may give them time to tamper with, conceal or destroy important records.”

Zubiri also pointed out the non-submission of relevant documents to the NBI and COA in the resolution during the plenary session last Wednesday.

Several senators have also voiced out that the PhilHealth COVID-19 fund should be suspended until the allegations are fully investigated, adding that the current allocation systems are not efficient and is a hindrance for many hospitals who are actively trying to address the pandemic.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III states that the committee report containing the findings and recommendations concluded that the marathon investigation is set to be drafted in the following week.