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New PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran criticized after admitting he knows nothing of public health

Netizens once again pointed out Duterte’s questionable decisions on appointing public officials.

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Former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Dante Gierran has been named the new head of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) following the resignation of the agency’s former chief Ricardo Morales, who has been accused of perpetrating corruption amid the pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte said that Gierran’s appointment is also to get rid of the corruption within PhilHealth.

“Pakilala ko lang sa inyo ‘yung bagong kuwan ko na PhilHealth, si Gierran. He was the retired director of the NBI. He is a lawyer and an accountant, so palagay ko, sabi ko sa kaniya, the next two years will be devoted to fight against corruption,”  Duterte announced during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force that was aired on Monday.

“Maghanap kayo ng mapakulong natin para may maiwan tayo sa kulungan,” he added.

Duterte also instructed Gierran to reshuffle regional directors of the agency.

“I want a reshuffle of the different regional offices within the next two or three days. That goes for the NBI, and the Philhealth,” he said.

“‘Yung lahat ng ano, regional vice president, tanggalin ninyo, whether performing at par or in parity with the other good ones. You know, if they are there for so long a time, the element of familiarity always enters the picture. ‘Yan ang mahirap diyan,” Duterte added.

Morales was urged by Duterte to resign after his medical documents revealed he was suffering from cancer.

PhilHealth Executive vice president and chief operating officer Arnel De Jesus briefly replaced Morales, but did not attend the Senate and House hearings on the alleged corruption in PhilHealth due to heart ailments and diabetes.

Karen Davila, who is not a fan of the current administration, tweeted the Universal Health Care Law qualifications for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer which says that the new appointee should ‘have at least seven years of experience in the field of public health, management, finance, and health economics or a combination of any of these expertise.”

On Tuesday, Gierran himself admitted that he knows has zero experience in public health.

“I’m very scared. I’m scared because I don’t know the operations of PhilHealth. Unlike NBI, I knew the operations of NBI. But PhilHealth, wala. I do not know about public health,” he said during an appearance on ANC’s Headstart. 

“I don’t have experience about (sic) public health. What I know about is financial management, having been a certified public accountant, and insurance,” Gierran added.

He wants the public to give him “a chance to lead.”

“I would like to succeed. I am scared but I am not cowed,” he said.

Gierran would also seek advice from Morales, saying: “I will talk to you later, sir. I have much to learn from you.”

Netizens once again pointed out Duterte’s questionable decisions on appointing public officials.

One netizen praised Gierran for admitting that he knows nothing of public health, unlike Mocha Uson, Arnell Ignacio, Robin Padilla, and other Duterte allies.

Many think Gierran should’ve just refused the position.

https://twitter.com/reintasico/status/1300635032298704897?s=20

https://twitter.com/JarrenHan/status/1300634282054934528?s=20

Dante Gierrandutertephilhealthrodrigo duterte

Written by Charles Teves

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