On Tuesday, the revelation of former anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Keith that PhilHealth officials have stolen about 15 billion pesos drew reactions from celebrities and netizens.
Singer and actress Zsa Zsa Padilla demanded these officials return the money and urged the government to scrutinize this case well.
Para yan sa kalusugan ng taong bayan na pinagtrabahuhan. Ano na, Philhealth?! Ibalik nyo ang pera!!! Imbestigahan yan ng maiigi at sana ipakita sa atin ng ating Pangulo na talagang maimbestigahan ng maiigi at maipakulong ang mga magnanakaw!!! President Duterte, parang awa nyo na
— zsa zsa padilla (@zsazsapadilla) August 4, 2020
“Para yan sa kalusugan ng taong bayan na pinagtrabahuhan. Ano na, Philhealth?! Ibalik nyo ang pera!!! Imbestigahan yan ng maiigi at sana ipakita sa atin ng ating Pangulo na talagang maimbestigahan ng maiigi at maipakulong ang mga magnanakaw!!! President Duterte, parang awa nyo na,” Zsazsa tweeted.
Journalist Kevin Manalo expressed his disgust in these corrupt Philhealth officials. He emphasized that as some people struggle just to contribute to the corporation, these officials dare to steal them.
Kadiri kayong mga nangungurakot ng pera sa PhilHealth. Sa tuwing ninanakaw niyo ang pera ng mga Pilipino, di ba kayo nakokonsensya?
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) August 4, 2020
Nakakasuka ang korupsyon. Thousands of Filipino families could not even have proper food to their tables yet they contribute to PhilHealth, then here comes a mafia who steal our hard earned money! Nakakadiri.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) August 4, 2020
“Kadiri kayong mga nangungurakot ng pera sa PhilHealth. Sa tuwing ninanakaw niyo ang pera ng mga Pilipino, di ba kayo nakokonsensya?” Manalo said.
“Nakakasuka ang korupsyon. Thousands of Filipino families could not even have proper food to their tables yet they contribute to PhilHealth, then here comes a mafia who steal our hard earned money! Nakakadiri.”
Erik Santos, Jennylyn Mercado, Winwyn Marquez, and Antoinette Jadaone also reacted to this issue divulged by the whistleblower.
https://twitter.com/realeriksantos/status/1290536827812626432
https://twitter.com/MercadoJen/status/1290547201182019584
https://twitter.com/wynmarquez/status/1290522493107593216
15 BILLION PESOS https://t.co/KBgQ72a54n
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) August 4, 2020
The pandemic has made a severe impact to the corporation as they decreased collection from members yet increased payouts for the hospitalization of COVID-19 patients.
It is projected that by the end of 2020, PhilHealth might have net operating losses of ₱90 billion and ₱140 billion by 2021 if the pandemic continues.
According to an official, PhilHealth may collapse by 2022 if the government will not subsidize the corporation.
PhilHealth officers affirmed the corruption in the agency, like in the purchase of overpriced equipment, software, and COVID-19 test kits.
