Manny Pacquiao Opposes PhilHealth Privatization Proposal
MANNY PACQUIAO – Boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao rejected calls to privatize Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has been embroiled in fresh allegations of fraudulent schemes and corruption. A whistleblower revealed that P15 billion of the funds went to the pockets of a “syndicate” in the company.
The executive members of state health insurance have gone on leave of absence amid the corruption issues. On Wednesday, senators urged President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to suspend PhilHealth CEO Ricardo Morales and other execs of the company embroiled in the corruption charges.
Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo on Wednesday filed a bill that seeks to grant the chief executive power to privatize PhilHealth. Her House Bill No. 7429 or Social Health Insurance Crisis Act of 2020 aims to “make them more effective and innovative to address the social health insurance crisis.”
“For this purpose, the President may abolish or create offices, transfer functions, equipment, properties, records and personnel; institute drastic cost-cutting and other related measures to carry out the said objectives,” the bill states.
READ ALSO: PhilHealth: No “Hard Evidence” Yet Of Alleged Corruption
Based on a report from Inquirer, Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday rejected the call to privatize PhilHealth and instead suggested that corrupt execs of the company be thrown in jail. The boxing champ said privatizing it will go against its very purpose.
“The best thing is to jail its corrupt officials instead of privatizing PhilHealth,” he said.
According to the report, Sen. Manny Pacquiao said privatizing the health insurance company will “actually do more harm than good.” There is no guarantee that the company will become more efficient and reliable he said.
“We just need to overhaul PhilHealth and fill it with people who are honest, dedicated, and competent. Privatizing PhilHealth is not the answer. It could even do more damage to our social health care system,” he said.
Based on the report, the boxer-turned-politician added that the proposal will just protect the officers from corruption and plunder cases. He warned that once the agency is privatized, the worker who plundered the company can only be sued for civil damage or estafa.
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