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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Roque believes Gierran is best choice for Philhealth

Roque believes Gierran is best choice for Philhealth

Published Sep 1, 2020 06:49 pm

Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Dante Gierran is the “best choice” to put an end to the alleged "white-collar crimes" plaguing the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (RESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has defended the appointment of Gierran as new PhilHealth president, saying he is an accountant, a lawyer and "a seasoned investigator" qualified to clean up the corruption-tainted state health firm.

Gierran will assume the top PhilHealth post vacated by Ricardo Morales who resigned last week at the height of the corruption allegations plaguing the corporation. 

"Bakit po siya itinalaga? Ang problema po sa PhilHealth korapsyon, so naisip po ng Presidente ang pinakamagaling na italaga diyan, number one, iyong mayroon nang kakayahan na mag-conduct ng mga imbestigasyon at ito nga po si Director Gierran (Why was he appointed? The problem of PhilHealth is corruption so the President thought the best appointee must have number one, ability to conduct investigation and that is Director Gierran)," Roque said about Gierran during a televised press briefing.

"At bukod pa po doon, dahil ang mga krimen na nagaganap po sa PhilHealth ay iyong tinatawag na white collar crimes, eh kinakailangan nakakaintindi rin po ng mga financial reports at financial records, mga balance statements ‘no. Kaya nga po I think Director Gierran is the best choice dahil siya ay CPA at lawyer din po na mayroon pang experience in criminal investigation  (Apart from that, because the crimes happening in PhilHealth are white collar crimes, the appointee must also understand the financial reports and financial records, balance (sheet) statements. I think Director Gierran is the best choice because he is a CPA and a lawyer. He also has an experience in criminal investigation)," he said.

With Gierran at the helm of Philhealth, Roque said the public can expect the cleanup of the agency in the remaining two years of the President's term.

Apart from his legal, accounting and investigating background, Roque maintained that Gierran is qualified to lead Philhealth due to his seven years of management experience.

"Hindi naman po kinakailangan na health economics experience is one of the possibilities pero nag-qualify po siya sa 7-year management experience (Health economics experience is not needed. It is just one of the possibilities but he is qualified for his seven-year management experience)," Roque said.

Under the universal health care law, the Philhealth president and chief executive officer must have at least 7 years of experience in the field of public health, management, finance, and health economics or combination of any of these expertise. The President must appoint the official upon the recommendation of the Philhealth board.

"Well, we don’t know if there is such a recommendation. Majority of the board members anyway are ex-officio members of the Cabinet. There are only four individuals who are not members of the Cabinet as far as I know," Roque said.

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