BY ARGYLL GEDUCOS
President Duterte has named former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran as the new president of PhilHealth and ordered him to send to jail those involved in corruption activities in the agency.
Duterte made the announcement during his late-night public address on the new COVID-19 quarantine classifications.
In his speech, Duterte reminded Gierran, who was present during the meeting in Malacañang, that the remaining two years of his administration will be devoted to the fight against corruption. He told the new PhilHealth president to look for people they can send to jail.
“Maghanap kayo ng mapakulong natin para may maiwan tayo sa kulungan,” he said.
President Duterte likewise ordered Gierran to sack all Philhealth regional vice presidents whether they are good performers or not.
“I want to see a reshuffle of the regional offices within the next two or three days… Yung lahat ng mga regional vice presidents tanggalin ninyo, whether performing at par or in parity with the other good ones,” he said.
“You know if they are there for so long a time, the element of familiarity always enters the picture. ‘Yan ang mahirap diyan,” he added.
Duterte said those who refused to be removed from their post will be moved to Malacañang instead.
“I will send them a memorandum. I will ask them to report to me dito sa Malacañang,” he said.
“I will ask them to do research on how not to serve a government properly. That should be the thesis–how not to serve the government properly. You study on that,” he added.
Meanwhile, Duterte said that Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra is wrapping up his investigation on the supposed corrupt practices at PhilHealth.
“I think he has seen proof enough to come up with an indictment,” he said.
“I hope this sad episode in our national life, in our journey towards nation-building will be somehow corrected,” he added.
President Duterte placed Gierran in PhilHealth after he accepted the resignation of Ricardo Morales. Morales stepped down due to health reasons amid investigations on the corruption in PhilHealth.
Gierran was among the first people to join Duterte’s Cabinet when the former Davao City Mayor won the presidency in 2016.
He is also the first-ever certified accountant-lawyer to become the NBI director. During his stint, Gierran avoided the media as much as he could.
