Gierran a ‘very good’ choice for new PhilHealth chief, says Sotto

Newly appointed PhilHealth president and CEO Dante Gierran is just the right man to head the embattled state health insurer, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday.

"Director Gierran is a very good choice as Philhealth chief. Aside from a clean record, he has investigative skills that can crack the whip in ferreting out anomalies in the agency," Sotto said in a message to reporters.

Gierran, a certified public accountant and retired director from the National Bureau of Investigation, was named new PhilHealth chief after his predecessor, Ricardo Morales, resigned due to an unstable health condition.

The change of leadership came amid investigations on alleged irregularities within the state health insurer.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon wished Gierran good luck on his appointment.

"What awaits him is high-level and deeply embedded corruption which is perfected over time by corrupt syndicates in PhilHealth. He should keep his eyes open - never blink - to corruption," Drilon said in a statement.

"A piece of advice: transparency is an effective tool to prevent corruption. I hope his leadership will finally shine a light on PhilHealth which operates in the dark," he added.

Aside from setting up an effective IT system to promote transparency, Gierran should also employ a "top-to-bottom reorganization" in PhilHealth to get rid of corruption, according to Drilon.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the new PhilHealth chief to remove all regional vice presidents, citing the need to eliminate the element of familiarity which paves way for corruption. — RSJ, GMA News