Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has reacted to the resignation of Augustus de Villa, the Senior Vice-President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Earlier, de Villa submitted his resignation to PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales amid the controversy within the state-run insurance firm.
The retired Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tendered an irrevocable resignation which will take effect immediately.
It can be recalled that resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith revealed in a Senate hearing that a whopping P15 billion worth of funds have been pocketed by the officials in a “syndicate-like” transactions within the agency.
“Naniniwala po ako, base sa aking imbestigasyon, ang perang nawaldas at o ninakaw ay humigit kumulang P15 billion,” Keith said.
Read Also: PhilHealth Anti-Fraud Officer Resigns Due To Alleged “Widespread Corruption”
According to him, the scheme includes the procurement of “overpriced” information and communication technology equipment.
Meanwhile, based on the statement of Senator Ping Lacson, Senate President Tito Sotto has issued a subpoena duces tecum or writ ordering de Villa to attend the next Committee hearing and bring relevant documents and present it before the senate.
Ping Lacson is hoping that de Villa “will be part of an advocacy group within philhealth and contribute in exposing more shenanigans based on his personal knowledge.“
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Source: ABS-CBN News/Twitter