Guevarra hopes key PhilHealth officials under probe would go on leave
MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday that he hopes Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) Corp. executives whose offices are under direct investigation over the latest corruption controversy hounding the agency would go on leave.
Members of the “Task Force PhilHealth” will convene on Monday to determine issues related to the state insurer that they can finish within the deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte, Guevarra said told reporters.
As of Monday, the task force has yet to identify officials that they would recommended for suspension or to go on leave, except those already under the list of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, the DOJ chief said. He added that he hopes “they would voluntarily go on leave while their agency is under intense investigation.”
In particular, Guevarra said he would like those whose operations are currently under investigation or audit to go on leave. “If they are not hiding anything, they can take a leave of absence to enable the investigators/auditors to freely complete their inquiry or examination,” he also said.
The DOJ chief also stressed that the National Privacy Commission had said that the Data Privacy Act may not be used to hinder government investigations.
On Monday morning, PhilHealth CEO and President Ricardo Morales said he notified his superiors of his intent to go on medical leave. This was after it was revealed that Morales is undergoing treatment for cancer of the lymph nodes.
In the wake of another corruption controversy surrounding the state insurer, Duterte ordered on Friday the creation of a high-level task force to probe PhilHealth and its regional offices. This time, the executives of the state insurer are accused of “pocketing” some P15 billion from the agency’s funds through fraudulent schemes—a claim that Morales denied.
The task force will have members from the Office of the Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and Office of the Special Assistant to the President.
The PACC on August 2 said that it was ready to submit a report on the findings of its own investigation into PhilHealth's system to Duterte. PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica during a Laging Handa briefing said the PACC identified at least 30 individuals engaged in corrupt activities.
Task force to identify specific probes
Guevarra also said that following Duterte’s memorandum, he would personally oversee the operation of the task force. DOJ undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, as well as a team of the department’s lawyers will also act as secretariat.
“The members of the task force are presently identifying which specific investigations or audits, other than on the WellMed issue, could be reasonably accomplished within the limited period given to the task force,” Guevarra said.
Duterte gave the Guevarra, head of the panel, 30 days to submit to his office findings and recommendations, including proposed legal actions against PhilHealth officials involved in corruption.
The DOJ chief was referring to the case filed over the alleged processing of WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center fraudulent claims for dialysis treatments for patients who had already died.
Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said last week that state prosecutors have yet to receive the court’s notice of hearing for their presentation of evidence. “Before the community quarantine, pre-trial hearing was conducted,” he added. — with reports from Bella Perez-Rubio
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. is facing scrutiny anew over more allegations of corruption.
It was in the headlines last year because of an alleged scam involving payments to WellMed Dialysis Center for treatments charged for a patient who had already died.
Follow this thread for updates.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation announces that the agency has released P500 million as partial payment to the Philippine Red Cross.
"PhilHealth takes exception to the insinuation that it is reckless and is playing on people’s lives. Its prudence in taking charge of its members’ hard-earned contributions is central to the state health insurer. Its exercise of judiciousness is to protect the people and their funds", PhiHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran says in a statement.
PhilHealth has released P50 million as partial payment to the Philippine Red Cross, PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran says.
"PhilHealth takes exception to the insinuation that it is reckless and is playing on people’s lives. Its prudence in taking charge of its members’ hard-earned contributions is central to the state health insurer," Gierran says.
The state insurer adds that it will expedite the processing of its remaining balance to Red Cross following strict compliance to government accounting rules and regulations.
Two committees in the House approve a report recommending the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales and other officials over the widespread corruption in the state health insurer.
President Rodrigo Duterte says the government will compensate the Philippine Red Cross for COVID-19 tests.
The Red Cross recently halted conducting tests due to the P930 million debt of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the conduct of COVID-19 tests for the government.
"I don't think Sen. (Richard) Gordon would have in his mind to stop. What I'm trying to say is we will pay," Duterte says in a recorded address aired Monday night.
The Philippine Red Cross will stop conducting COVID-19 tests chargeable to PhilHealth due to the state insurer's outstanding balance.
PRC says it will no longer receive specimens for testing of OFWs, those arriving in airports and seaports, individuals through mega swabbing facilities, frontline health and government workers, and others included in the expanded testing guidelines of the DOH.
"The PRC does not have unlimited resources to replenish the testing kits for its laboratories unless PhilHealth, its major creditor, settles its lawful obligations to the PRC," PRC says in a statement dated October 14.
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