Decorum

As a matter of tradition, past presidents keep silent about their successors.

This is not just good form. It also spares the nation from the din of having too many talking heads. The sitting chief executive ought to be given the privilege of being the only voice speaking from the perch.

But convention, as we know, rarely holds Rodrigo Duterte back. This is the reason why a sense of chaos seems to have descended on our politics.

Recently, he said things that seem to suggest the Armed Forces might have to step in to fix the “broken governance” afflicting the nation. A lawyer, like his daughter, Rodrigo Duterte says things just short of what may be outrightly criminal.

For seeming to issue a call for the Armed Forces to intervene, Rodrigo opened yet another can of controversy. The Armed Forces of the Philippines reiterated its proper role in a democracy. Even the retired officers who have been so vocal about the volume of corruption afflicting the nation were set aback by what did sound like an invitation to intervene.

In a political atmosphere completely dehydrated of humor, no one was pleased by the elder Duterte’s utterance. We have convinced ourselves a long time ago that we have elevated far beyond the status of a banana republic.

Rodrigo Duterte was never a consensus-builder. After his tenure, he left a legacy of contentiousness over some of his key policies.

His war against drugs left behind an intense debate about vigilantism as an instrument for crushing criminality. Government ought to be about building effective institutions. Vigilantism undermines institutions. It erodes due process. It diminishes the justice system.

Likewise, especially among our men and women in uniform, the Duterte administration’s policy towards China remains a matter for debate.

Recall that Rodrigo Duterte maintained what may be called a subservient disposition towards China in the midst of sharpening territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea. While neighboring Indonesia, while maintaining close economic ties with the regional power, pursued a tough policy of sinking foreign vessels entering her waters, the Philippines under Duterte took a diffident posture.

In the face of China’s rapid reclamation of land in reefs claim, Duterte said: “Talagang inutil ako diyan, walang magawa.” Former Duterte spokesman Harry Roque admitted that his boss and Xi Jinping forged a “gentleman’s agreement” to maintain the status quo in the South China Sea – although this meant Beijing continued to build up its naval bases there.

Most of our military officers chafed at the position we maintained vis-a-vis China. They are not too enthusiastic about the prospect of a Duterte restoration that will return our policy to subservience.

Transparent

In the same midnight press conference where the former president sounded like he was urging the military to intervene, Duterte chose to address the matter of transferring unused government funds at PhilHealth. He described it as “mishandling” of government funds, one that obviously dwarfs the current controversy about Sara Duterte and her confidential funds.

Petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court regarding the decision to transfer back to the National Treasury government funds that PhilHealth has been unable to use. Without delving on the merits of the petitions filed, the facts of the case need restatement given the volume of disinformation circulating.

The former president claims P90 billion was involved in the transfer. The correct number is P60 billion. The money was not “taken” from PhilHealth. The funds were reallocated.

Furthermore, the funds in question are not from members’ contributions. They are from earmarked funds, such as those collected from “sin taxes.” PhilHealth has been chronically unable to put these funds to use. Meanwhile, government is short of funds to meet the needs of its health programs.

Transfer of the unused funds did not result in diminution of PhilHealth benefits. In fact, benefits were increased even after the funds were returned to the Treasury. PhilHealth has raised case rates, improved health care packages and enhanced coverage for illnesses such as breast cancer.

PhilHealth remains financially robust with P500 billion in reserves. This is the reason it could afford to increase member benefits even after the unused funds were transferred back to the Treasury. As it improves on its financial management capabilities, the agency should be able to deploy benefits more efficiently.

The transferred funds have not disappeared into some  mysterious, undocumented hole. They may only be disbursed in line with the provisions of the General Appropriations Act. They were transparently allocated to meet urgent national priorities. Among these were paying the Covid-19 allowances for front-liners, salary increases for public health workers and critical infrastructure projects. Over P40 billion of the transferred funds went to salary increases for government workers. The audit trail is open for all to examine.

PhilHealth members will be happy to know that dialysis benefits were raised from 90 to 156 sessions per year. Per-session support increased from P2,600 to P6,350. This provides patients support of up to P990,600 annually.

Likewise, breast cancer treatment support rose dramatically. Severe dengue benefits increased by 200 percent. Primary care benefits under PhilHealth Konsulta more than tripled. Benefits for other diseases such as stoke, asthma and neonatal sepsis now have doubled or tripled coverage.

Other issues may be raised against the transfer of unused funds. But surely diminished health benefits could not be one of them.