Duque reminds Lacson: Case on OWWA fund mess long been dismissed


 / 04:46 PM June 14, 2019
Duque reminds Lacson: Case on OWWA fund long been dismissed
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has reminded critics that the case against him for the alleged misuse of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds has long been dismissed.
Duque said on Friday that the issue, which was pointed out by Senator Panfilo Lacson in a previous tweet, has been resolved already after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled with finality in 2013.
“For the record and information of the honorable Senator Panfilo Lacson, this case was already dismissed by the Ombudsman in 2012 and dismissed with finality by the Supreme Court in 2013 due to the lack of evidence,” he said in a statement.
On Thursday, Lacson reminded President Rodrigo Duterte of Duque’s involvement in the OWWA issue, where funds sourced from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were used to purchase PhilHealth cards in 2004.
These cards were distributed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before making her presidential bid in 2004.  Duque was then PhilHealth president.

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