Duterte says he can’t find “good reason” to charge Duque over PhilHealth mess

October 6, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has renewed his support to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying he could not find a "good reason" to prosecute him over the alleged corruption in Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

In a taped televised message on Monday night, Duterte said he is not like other persons who would just "drop" someone just to be on the safe side because others have been calling for it.

"Well, there has been a lot of things I have heard, I have read - and even some advice - that I should drop Duque, you Sir, because you're not good for my administration," he said in front of some Cabinet members, including Duque.

"You know, there could be people who are like that. You go for the safe side. And there are a lot of people who do it, they do it just to remove the problem...I am not like that. I'm a lawyer and I know what is probable cause and prima facie. These are two phrases that are important before you can file a case in court," the President said.

He said he read the investigation report about the alleged massive corruption in PhilHealth where Duque is the chairman being the Health secretary.

"I have read the findings and for the life of me, I cannot really find a good reason to prosecute an innocent man. Mine is to not really prosecute just for the sake of being somebody being prosecuted. My job is to see to it that the rule of law - the rules for or against a person - are followed," Duterte explained.

He described Duque as a "hard working government worker."

Duterte had ordered the Task Force PhilHealth led by the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation and lifestyle check of the state insurers officials.

Based on the task force's recommendation, no criminal nor administrative charges were recommended against Duque but mere strong admonition. Other PhilHealth officials, such as its former president and CEO, Ricardo Morales, however, were recommended to be charged criminally and administratively.

The findings of the task force was different from that of the Senate Committee of the Whole, which conducted its own inquiry over the PhilHealth mess and recommended Duque as among those officials who should be criminally and administratively charged. Celerina Monte/DMS