Duque: Philhealth used to boost Gloria 2004 chances - Malaya 08.15.2006
BY DENNIS GADIL
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque yesterday told senators that membership cards in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) were distributed to gain "political points" for President Arroyo during the 2004 elections.
"It was distributed before, during and after the elections," Duque, who was PhilHealth chief in 2004, told the Senate committee on finance chaired by Sen. Franklin Drilon. Drilon’s panel was scrutinizing Malacañang’s proposed P46.4 billion supplemental budget.
Duque, who masterminded the transfer of P530 million Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds to PhilHealth, said he proposed the transfer to boost President Arroyo’s political stock.
"The transfer if successfully done could improve the President’s political capital and make her win some political points from OFWs who are allowed to vote," he said.
But Duque said PhilHealth cards were already being distributed as early as 2001, which continued up to 2004 and the present.
He said at least two million health cards were distributed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) before and during the elections.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said the PhilHealth cards were given to "advance the election" of President Arroyo.
Estrada said the PhilHealth cards were given to all registered voters and that the health portfolio was Duque’s "reward" for authoring the mass distribution.
"No, I disagree," Duque shot back.
Estrada then produced a copy of the memorandum sent in 2002 by Duque recommending to President Arroyo that the OWWA funds be transferred to PhilHealth.
In the letter, Duque told President Arroyo that "the transfer will have a significant bearing on the 2004 elections."
Duque said the distribution of health cards was pursuant to Arroyo’s advocacy of advancing the cause of Filipino families.
Duque said the "political points" would come from the OFWs who would be voting for the first time under the Absentee Voting Law.
He reiterated that the transfer was also in compliance with Republic Act 7875 or the National Insurance Program Act, which seeks to unify all health care systems under one insurance agency, which was PhilHealth.
Duque said the transfer of funds was not in bulk but in tranches, with the last transfer "effected long after the elections."
Estrada said it does not matter when the transfer was consummated but the fact was that "PhilHealth cards were distributed during the elections."
Last week, Sen. Joker Arroyo said PhilHealth membership rose to 15.3 million by December 2004. There were 9.9 million PhilHealth members as of December 2003.
Sen. Arroyo said the sharp rise in membership is proof that the agency was used to boost the election of President Arroyo.
"Ibig sabihin nung big increase ’e dahil ginamit sa eleksyon," he said.
The figures were confirmed by PhilHealth senior vice president Melinda Mercado during a briefing on the supplemental budget by the Senate finance committee.
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque yesterday told senators that membership cards in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) were distributed to gain "political points" for President Arroyo during the 2004 elections.
"It was distributed before, during and after the elections," Duque, who was PhilHealth chief in 2004, told the Senate committee on finance chaired by Sen. Franklin Drilon. Drilon’s panel was scrutinizing Malacañang’s proposed P46.4 billion supplemental budget.
Duque, who masterminded the transfer of P530 million Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds to PhilHealth, said he proposed the transfer to boost President Arroyo’s political stock.
"The transfer if successfully done could improve the President’s political capital and make her win some political points from OFWs who are allowed to vote," he said.
But Duque said PhilHealth cards were already being distributed as early as 2001, which continued up to 2004 and the present.
He said at least two million health cards were distributed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) before and during the elections.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said the PhilHealth cards were given to "advance the election" of President Arroyo.
Estrada said the PhilHealth cards were given to all registered voters and that the health portfolio was Duque’s "reward" for authoring the mass distribution.
"No, I disagree," Duque shot back.
Estrada then produced a copy of the memorandum sent in 2002 by Duque recommending to President Arroyo that the OWWA funds be transferred to PhilHealth.
In the letter, Duque told President Arroyo that "the transfer will have a significant bearing on the 2004 elections."
Duque said the distribution of health cards was pursuant to Arroyo’s advocacy of advancing the cause of Filipino families.
Duque said the "political points" would come from the OFWs who would be voting for the first time under the Absentee Voting Law.
He reiterated that the transfer was also in compliance with Republic Act 7875 or the National Insurance Program Act, which seeks to unify all health care systems under one insurance agency, which was PhilHealth.
Duque said the transfer of funds was not in bulk but in tranches, with the last transfer "effected long after the elections."
Estrada said it does not matter when the transfer was consummated but the fact was that "PhilHealth cards were distributed during the elections."
Last week, Sen. Joker Arroyo said PhilHealth membership rose to 15.3 million by December 2004. There were 9.9 million PhilHealth members as of December 2003.
Sen. Arroyo said the sharp rise in membership is proof that the agency was used to boost the election of President Arroyo.
"Ibig sabihin nung big increase ’e dahil ginamit sa eleksyon," he said.
The figures were confirmed by PhilHealth senior vice president Melinda Mercado during a briefing on the supplemental budget by the Senate finance committee.
posted by brodkaster43 at Martes, Agosto 15, 2006
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