MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday reminded President Rodrigo Duterte that his ‘health chief’ was involved in another Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) controversy 15 years ago. In a cryptic tweet on Thursday, Lacson did not name the official but was apparently referring to Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who was PhilHealth president from 2001 to 2004, under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. President, your DOH secretary/ PhilHealth chairman was PhilHealth president in 2004 when P500M in OWWA funds was illegally used to buy PhilHealth cards bearing ex-PGMA’s picture with the acronym GMA (Greater Medical Access) and GMA Para sa Masa, Para sa Lahat,” he said. Lacson was referring to the alleged illegal use of P530 million Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds to purchase PhilHealth cards which were distributed nationwide. READ: Ex-president Arroyo summoned to probe on OWWA fund ‘anomaly’ADVERTISEMENTREAD: Malversation rap vs Arroyo dismissedAs health secretary, Duque is the chairperson of PhilHealth — the agency recently involved in the dialysis claims fiasco.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 13, 2019 00:45 UTC