We leave it to the Senate, a separate co-equal branch, to comment on reports that officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) may skip their hearing, scheduled on August 11, for medical / health reasons.

As far as the Executive is concerned, the Task Force organized by the Department of Justice, upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, will proceed in its mandate to investigate on the various allegations of corruption in PhilHealth, including the audit of PhilHealth finances and the conduct of lifestyle checks on its officials and employees, and if warranted, to recommend the preventive suspension on any official to ensure that the probe of the Task Force would be unhampered.

There is no turning back as we expect the Task Force to submit its findings and recommendations to the Office of the President within thirty (30) days after its constitition as directed by the Chief Executive.