(Eagle News)–Plunder and graft charges were filed on Friday, June 21, against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in connection with his family corporation’s lease contract with PhilHealth.
The charges were filed by the kin of alleged Dengvaxia victims before the Ombudsman.
According to the complaint, Duque committed the acts when he “with manifest conflict of interest, allowed his family corporation” Educational and Medical Development Corporation “in which he is a substantial stockholder to transact business with” PhilHealth of which he is also ex-officio chair.
The complaint said the transaction involved a contract for PhilHealth’s rental of a building owned by EMDC in Pangasinan, as alleged by Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Duque has said he has divested himself from the corporation since he became Health Secretary, adding that he no longer knew about the transactions entered into by EMDC.
Lacson has said Duque’s defense was “not valid.” Gerald Rañez
