PhilHealth assures benefits for kin of 44 PNP-SAF men

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Widows, children and parents of the 44 commandos of the PNP Special Action Force, who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao are now assured of benefits from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

PhilHealth chief executive officer and president Alexander Padilla issued this assurance during the press conference on the eve of the corporation’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Six of the Fallen 44 were natives of Eastern Visayas, and they were laid to rest in their respective hometowns in Leyte and Samar provinces.

Padilla also disclosed that the fighters of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Moro Islamic Liberatiom Front will also be covered as members of Philhealth.

He clarified that the minor children of the SAF 44, their widows, for as long as they do not get married again, and their parents, until they reach the age of 60, will be covered in a new PhilHealth package, being in specially identified situation unlike any other law enforcers and armed fighters of the government.

Even convicts in criminal suits are likewise covered, all of them being Filipinos, who are all equally entitled to the same benefits from PhilHealth, he said.

Padilla, also a peace negotiator, told the media there is now a need to provide help to these marginalized people, based on the principle of “health is a matter of right.”

He said that in a study, it was “concluded that people become rebels on the main reason of government neglect,” adding that, “Peace is a never-ending struggle, a process in which achieving we really undergo trials.”

The PhilHealth-Region 8 office, under regional vice president Walter Bacareza, has been working more efficiently to achieve the goals of the government firm nationwide, while enhancing its fight against red tape in the bureaucracy.

PhilHealth-8 is now also constructing the PhilHealth Farmville site in Babatngon town of Leyte, for the poor, and its own office building at Barangay Cabalawan in Tacloban City.

The firm’s officials further announced its distribution of assistance for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda, who are now relocated at Gawad Kalinga resettlement areas.

PhilHealth’s anniversary celebration was also highlighted with its staging of the biggest fun run in Eastern Visayas, with at least 6,000 individuals participating. The firm has eyed to generate P1 million for the victims of Yolanda.  (FREEMAN)