After three lengthy hearings on the allegations of corruption in PhilHealth, the Senate finally released its recommendation for its officials allegedly involved in anomalies.
The Senate Committee of the Whole is recommending to file series of criminal charges against health Secretary Francisco Duque III as Chairman of the Board and former PhilHealth CEO Ricardo Morales.
The charges include violations of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code or Malversation of Public Funds, Article 220 or Illegal Use of Public Funds and Property, and of RA No. 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act.
These are in relation to the illegal implementation of interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM). PhilHealth was also found to have favored some hospital beneficiaries.
The investigation revealed that the estimated cost of PhilHealth for COVID-19 is only Php 3.3 billion but around Php 26 billion has been stated in the budget, Php 14 billion of which has already been released.
Among those who will be charged in relation to the illegal release of the IRM are former VP and COO Arnel de Jesus, SVP for Fund Management Sector Renato Limsiaco Jr., SVP Israel Francis Pargas of Health Finance Policy Sector, and other officials involved in corruption.
The Senate also recommended to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Ombudsman administrative cases against Morales, De Jesus, and SVP for Legal Sector Atty. Rodolfo del Rosario for violating COA liquidation.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers lauded the appointment of new PhilHealth Chief Dante Gierran.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa expressed optimism that Gierran “will be able to put into good use his investigative expertise in decapitating the criminal syndicate” in the corporation.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also shared the same view with dela Rosa and added that he praises “the move of the President to remove all the Regional VPs as a top to bottom revamp is needed to end the mafia.” – Report from Eunice Samonte
