Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his confidence in newly appointed PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran’s ability to resolve the perennial issues plaguing the agency.
Go also urged Gierran to stop the issue of corruption and ensure the continuity of the agency’s services.
The senator defended the appointment of the former National Bureau of Investigations chief, saying that Gierran is highly qualified for the job given his accounting and legal background, extensive experience in government, and clean record aligned with the administration’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption.
“I believe he is more than qualified for this task. Umaasa akong gagawin nya ang lahat para matupad ang misyon na ibinigay sakanya ng Pangulo: Linisin ang ahensya, panagutin ang may sala, at ibigay ang dapat ibigay na serbisyo sa tao (I expect he would do all he can to fulfill the mission given to him by the President: Clean the agency, hold liable those corrupt officials and give the service the people deserve),” Go said.
Go said for PhilHealth to be able to improve public health services, officials must first ensure that the people’s money intended for this purpose is secured.
He implored Gierran to take to heart the words of President Rodrigo Duterte to rid the agency of corrupt officials, restore public trust, and ensure that people's taxes are spent prudently on improving the delivery and quality of services, especially during this time of crisis.
Go warned those involved in deep-rooted, systemic, and systematic corruption that the full force of the law will be used by the government to hold them accountable and put them in jail.
“As long as there are people like you in government, we will not stop in our efforts to remove rotten eggs like you who are destroying public service and the public’s trust in government,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga noon, kung hindi lang magagalit ang human rights advocates, dapat pilayan o putulin ang daliri o kamay ng mga corrupt para matigil talaga ang kalokohan,” he added.
(As I have said before, only if human rights advocates would not get mad, corrupt officials should be maimed or have their fingers cut to stop their illegal activities.)
Go said the fight against corruption must continue to ensure Filipinos that the people’s money will be spent properly.
He described systemic corruption as a sickness that must be cured to protect the integrity of government institutions and provide the public with the kind of service they deserve.
On Tuesday during the Senate’s regular session, senators tackled the Committee Report of the Senate Committee of the Whole on its investigations on alleged anomalies in PhilHealth.
Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, commended his colleagues and expressed support on the findings presented.
“I urge my colleagues to continue helping the administration in cleansing government. Kung may nakikita tayong katiwalian, ilabas natin dito. Hindi tayo nagtatapos sa PhilHealth lamang. May mga ibang ahensya pa dyan na may problema ng korapsyon sa loob at sa baba. Tuluyan na natin (If we see irregularities, let’s expose them. We would not only end in PhilHealth. There are other government agencies that have the problem of corruption, inside and low levels. Let’s end them),” he also said. (PR)
