BUTUAN CITY — Reelectionist Senator Bong Go did not hold back his frustration over the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) during a lively campaign rally here on Saturday. Despite PhilHealth sitting on billions in excess funds, Go slammed the agency for falling short in delivering essential services to Filipinos.
“Lahat tayo ay miyembro ng PhilHealth. Kaya galit ako sa kanila! Sobrang sobra ang pondo ninyo, ibinalik niyo pa nga sa gobyerno, pero kulang pa rin ang serbisyo,” Go declared, drawing gasps and murmurs from the crowd. He is the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and has championed health initiatives like the Malasakit Centers and Super Health Centers.
His message was clear: PhilHealth is not a business. It is meant to be a lifeline—an insurance Filipinos can rely on when illness strikes. “Hindi negosyo ang PhilHealth! Dapat ito ang sandigan natin sa panahon ng sakit.”
The controversy around PhilHealth’s finances runs deep. Last year, the agency transferred a staggering P60 billion back to the national treasury. But this sparked uproar, with the Supreme Court blocking another P29.9 billion in excess funds from being surrendered. Legal battles continue as the court weighs petitions to halt these transfers.
Go vowed to remain vigilant if granted another Senate term. “Hindi ko titigilan ang PhilHealth para sa kapakinabangan ng mga Pilipino. Babantayan ko kayo,” he warned.
The same rally in Butuan also saw other PDP Laban senatorial candidates echo loyalty to the Duterte political clan. They promised to uphold former President Rodrigo Duterte’s policies and resist any impeachment moves against his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
Supporters fiercely decried the “illegal” detention of Duterte, who is currently held in The Hague over charges related to alleged extrajudicial killings during his controversial drug war. Lawyer-singer Jimmy Bondoc asserted, “Hindi saklaw ng ICC ang Pilipinas. Wala silang hurisdiksyon.”
This comes after the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 2019 amid the probe into the drug war.
Malacañang maintains Duterte’s arrest was within the bounds of the law, citing international agreements and Philippine laws on crimes against humanitarian law. The government insists it honored its obligations with Interpol and relevant laws allowing extradition under certain conditions.
Joining the rally were seasoned Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Atty. Israelito Torreon, legal counsel for detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Meanwhile, independent senatorial candidate Nur-Ana Sahidulla decried what she calls false and misleading reports aimed at tarnishing her reputation. In a heartfelt Facebook post, she said, “Politics should not be a weapon to destroy others. These attacks undermine honest public service and mislead our people.”
On the campaign trail elsewhere, Roberto Ballon engaged with youth and farmers in Tarlac City and dialogued with fishermen cooperatives in Zambales. Bonifacio Bosita also campaigned in Zambales, while Norberto Gonzales spoke at a sectoral forum in Bikol and visited local lawmakers.
Ariel Querubin gained crucial endorsements from key local officials in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro, boosting his bids in these influential provinces.
As the Eleksyon 2025 fever rises, all eyes will remain on the complex health sector debate and the unfolding political drama surrounding Duterte’s legacy. The stakes are high, with millions of Filipinos depending on both reforms and reliable governance.