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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-9/duque-sm.webp" alt="Francisco Duque III" />
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(Secretary Francisco Duque III)
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At the continuation of the hearing of the Senate's Committee of the Whole on the alleged corruption at PhilHealth, former Anti-Graft Legal Officer Atty. Thorrsson Montes Keith said Duque was the godfather of the mafia as he was the one approving the policies, like the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism, passed by the board.
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Keith told the committee:
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"Matuturing ko po na siya po yung godfather.
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"As a chairman, meron pong due diligence na gagawin ng isang chairman and considering that he's a doctor and may institutional knowledge sa pamamalakad sa PhilHealth. Sa unang tinging pa lang po ay makikita na po agad na siya ay ma-anomalya." 
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He added that Duque was the one who approved the appointments of the mafia:
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"Ikumpara niyo po sa akin na nine months lang sa PhilHealth, nakikita ko na po na maraming fraud and corruption sa PhilHealth." 
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Duque vehemently denied Keith's accusation. He said when asked about the matter:
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"I deny this absolutely malicious and without basis, I do not wish to dignify that allegation." 
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Keith earlier accused the current Executive Committee of PhilHealth as members of the mafia.
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He said the executive committee has been covering up the irregularities happening inside PhilHealth namely the IRM, the overpriced IT project, and the manipulation of PhilHealth's financial statements.
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Keith's statements were backed by Board Member Alejandro Cabading and tagged PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Legal Sector, Atty. Rodolfo del Rosario, SVP for Management Services Sector Dennis Mas, SVP for Fund Management Sector Renato Limsiaco, and Corporate Secretary Atty. Jonathan Mangaoang as members of the so-called mafia.
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During the same hearing, Regional Vice President Dennis Adre backed Keith and Cabading's statements that the incumbent officials in the Executive Committee is the "real and bad mafia."
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Adre was one of the six regional vice presidents who took official leave of absence amid the ongoing investigation of Congress and the task force led by the Department of Justice.
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In last year's Senate hearing, Adre was also one of the seven PhilHealth executives who were tagged by resigned PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Ferrer and former Board Member Roberto Salvador Jr. as members of the mafia called the "Mindanao group."
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Keith and Cabading said the Mindanao group was the <i>"good guys"</i> inside PhilHealth.
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On the other hand, Duque did not deny that there might be syndicate-like groups of people <i>"who are behind these nefarious activities from the hospitals."</i>
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He, however, said that PhilHealth Chief Ricardo Morales is directly involved in the anomalies inside PhilHealth. Duque said:
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Duque tagged as "godfather of mafia" taking control over PhilHealth