PhilHealth exec insists on P10.6-billion fund diversion

MANILA, Philippines — An executive of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. reiterated yesterday that there is basis for the graft complaint filed against officials of the previous administration in connection with the alleged diversion of around P10.6 billion in PhilHealth funds intended for senior citizens in 2015.

Ma. Sophia Varlez, officer-in-charge of PhilHealth’s corporate affairs office, made the statement after detained Sen. Leila de Lima said the complaint against former health secretary Janet Garin and former PhilHealth head Alexander Padilla before the Office of the Ombudsman was baseless.

De Lima argued that the diverted funds did not come from PhilHealth but from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund of the 2015 national budget.

Varlez maintained that the basis for the complaint filed last March was the joint letter of Garin and Padilla, requesting the release of the funds for the Department of Health’s facilities enhancement program in August 2015.

“The move by Garin and Padilla was done without the knowledge and approval of the PhilHealth board,” Varlez said.

She also cited a letter issued by the Department of Budget and Management on Sept. 28, 2015, stating no health insurance premiums would be released for senior citizens for the same year.