Senador Lacson, inaming walang sapat na ebidensya para idiin si Health Sec. Duque sa anomalya sa PhilHealth
Kung si Senador Panfilo Lacson ang tatanungin, wala siyang nakikitang matibay na ebidensya para idiin at makasuhan si Health secretary Francisco Duque III kaugnay ng anomalya sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Ang pahayag ay ginawa ni Lacson matapos ilabas ang Committee Report ng Senate Committee of the whole kung saan inirekomendang kasuhan ng graft at malversation of public funds si Duque at matataas na opisyal ng PhilHealth.
Ayon kay Lacson, hindi sapat ang nakalap na ebidensya ng Committee of the whole para kasuhan ng kriminal si Duque sa isyu ng iregularidad sa advance payment scheme sa ilalim ng Interim Reimbursement Program.
Bagamat Ex-Officio chairman ng Board ng PhilHealth, wala aniyang partisipasyon si Duque sa implementasyon ng illegal disbursement ng IRM at wala rin itong kinalaman sa pagbili ng mga overpriced na equipment.
Gayunman, baka may nakita aniyang ibang ebidensya si Senate President Vicente Sotto III na siyang nag-endorse ng Committee report sa Senado.
Aalamin aniya niya ang isyung ito oras na isalang na sa interpelation sa plenaryo ang report ng Senado.
Paglilinaw naman ni Lacson, maaaring makasuhan ng administratibo si Duque kung ikukunsidera ang Command Responsibility.
Statement: Sen. Lacson:
“If I had my way, as I already said before, based on the three hearings of the Committee of the Whole, there may not be enough evidence to recommend Criminal charges against Sec. Duque for the simple reason that like the other members of the PhilHealth Board, he had no hand in the illegal implementation of the IRM; nor was he involved in the procurement of overpriced IT equipment”.
“However, my colleagues – particularly Senate President Sotto who chaired the COW hearings – would have seen it another way. Since we are a collegial body, we always abide by the rule of the majority”.
Meanne Corvera
