HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd on Thursday denied Sen. Panfilo Lacson's claim that there was “conflict of interest” when the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) rented his family-owned building in Dagupan City for its office.

Duque’s denial stemmed from Lacson’s disclosure that the Educational and Medical Development Corporation (EMDC), of which Duque and members of his family were listed as stockholders, leased its building to PhilHealth Region 1 and its contract would expire by yearend.