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PNP withdraws, then reinstates Bong Go’s security after training

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GO SEEKS CLARIFICATION OF PHILHEALTH EXCESS FUNDS: Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Committee on Health and Demography, seeks clarification from the Departments of Finance and Health on the transfer of nearly P90 billion worth of excess funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the National Treasury. “Is this legal? We want to know where the excess fund will go and what it would be used for. Why does PhilHealth have P90 billion in excess? Why do you have to return the P90 billion instead of using it to fund new projects?” Go asked Tuesday, July 30, 2024, during the Senate inquiry on the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, including the utilization of the PhilHealth funds for program benefits. Go said the PhilHealth funds should be used for health-related programs. Instead of returning the excess funds to the national coffers, Go said PhilHealth should use the money to increase benefit packages such as the dialysis, dental, mental health or the z benefit packages. If the PhilHealth has more than enough funds, Go said that perhaps, the agency should momentarily halt collecting contribution from its members. “We are far from the full implementation of the UHC as envisioned by the law,” the senator lamented. Last April, the DOF directed all government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to remit their excess funds to the national coffers. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — As part of its efforts to prevent moonlighting activities among its personnel, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Tuesday that it temporarily withdrew Senator Bong Go’s security detail but has already returned it to the official.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Go’s police protection detail and those rendering protective security to other authorized individuals were recalled pursuant to the order of the Police Security and Protection Group’s director.

READ: Sara Duterte appeals protection for her family – physically or online

“That is true. They were withdrawn around the first week of July because we caught some police officers engaging in moonlighting activities,” Fajardo said in Filipino during a press conference on Tuesday.

“They underwent a refresher training regarding providing security services, but after that, we returned them to authorized individuals, including Senator Bong Go,” she added.

Earlier, Go alleged that the PNP also removed his security detail shortly after Vice President Sara Duterte slammed the national police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil for his alleged lies on the same issue.

Duterte claimed that her police protection detail was “immediately” removed after she resigned from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet, her comment on his State of the Nation Address, and the circulation of the Chief Executive’s video online purportedly using illegal drugs.

Also, on Tuesday, the Vice President pleaded for protection for her family on Facebook as she thanked Go and Senators Bato Dela Rosa and Robin Padilla for their support.

For his part, Dela Rosa called on former police and army personnel to volunteer as security for Duterte.

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