Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) executives have refused to resign despite the call of their new president and CEO Dante Gierran to vacate their posts following a multibillion-peso corruption controversy.
Gierran said in a television report he has asked 66 officials to resign, but none have turned in their resignation as of Tuesday.
Instead, the executives sought a dialogue with Gierran to argue that they are assured of security of tenure by Civil Service laws.
“That is basic (rights under the civil service). It is so hard to lose a job, especially in times like this,” PhilHealth spokesman Rey Baleña said.
But Civil Service Commission (CSC) head Aileen Lizada said PhilHealth executives cannot hide behind such laws.
“While we have security of tenure, it does not mean that you have all the right to stay there even if you are doing something wrong,” Lizada said.
"Don't use the CSC to back you up, because we will not also stand by anomalies or irregularities,” she added.
An audit ordered by Lizada found that many PhilHealth officials have refused to vacate their posts.
She said that some regional vice presidents of the state health insurer have held their posts for decades.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte defended Health Secretary Francisco Duque III anew from involvement in the state health insurer's mess, saying he believes Duque—as PhilHealth chairman and a member of the board for many years —is innocent of all accusations.
In a televised meeting, Duterte said he has been advised to let Duque go, but the President did not pay this any attention, saying the secretary was a hardworking government official.
"There has been a lot of things I have heard…and even some advice that I should drop Duque because he is not good for my administration.
Some people might do that, you go for the safe side. And there are a lot of people who do it. Those who want to just get rid of a problem… I am not that kind of person,” he said.
As a lawyer, Duterte said he was familiar with prima facie evidence, which what was needed before filing a case against someone.
"I have yet to find, what they say about filing a case against Duque because he is at fault. I have read the filings and for the life of me, I cannot really find a good reason to prosecute an innocent man," he said.
Duterte said his job was to make sure that the rule of law was followed.
However, the President’s position to retain Duque may change if there will be enough evidence to prove that the health chief is liable for the PhilHealth mess, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the remarks in an online press briefing
Roque cited the example of the President’s stance toward former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales, who was forced to resign on the advice of Duterte.
While the President continues to defend Duque from allegations involving him in the PhilHealth corruption scandal, it does not mean he would be absolved from the issue, Roque said.
Duterte formed a task force to investigate the alleged corruption within PhilHealth last August.
The President's latest remarks on Duque are “as an expression of trust and not of exoneration,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.
Guevarra, who headed the Task Force PhilHealth that investigated the widespread corruption and irregularities in the state-owned corporation, said he believes the President will not step in the legal process should there be evidence against any person in government.
“I view the President’s statement as an expression of trust, not of exoneration. If evidence should turn up against anyone, regardless of position, I believe that the President, who has prosecutorial blood running in his veins, will not impede the legal process from taking its due course," Guevarra said in a message to reporters.
"The DOJ will simply continue what it has been directed by the president to do; that is, to bring any and all lawbreakers at PhilHealth before the bars of justice," he added.
The Justice Secretary made the statement after Senator Panfilo Lacson said that Duterte is sending “mixed signals” by showing support for Duque even while an investigation into PhilHealth, which he had ordered, is still underway.