Senate President Vicente Sotto III advised Philippine Health Insurance Corporation officials against rushing to file libel charges against the whistleblowers of the alleged corruption in the state insurer.“I will say that be careful when you file a case of libel because it might be proven to be true,” Sotto said in a virtual briefing with reporters.
He called this a “bad move”, saying it might backfire at them should the allegations be substantiated by evidence. Sotto, who also chairs the Committee of the Whole conducting the inquiry on PhilHealth anomalies, said Keith and the other witnesses who shared their knowledge on the issues were already covered by the Senate’s parliamentary immunity.
“It does not give him immunity if he is lying. If you are charged with perjury and proven that you committed perjury, then you shed off the parliamentary immunity,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Kay tagal ko ng nai eexpose ang drugs and corruption sa bayan ng Teresa, Rizal. Delikado pa pamilya ko. Ang pdea at pnp sa calabarzon ay di mapagtitiwalaan. Naisumbong ko na sa pccmalacanang. Mukhang walang kumikilos.