Fairness is looking at the other side of the coin
IWROTE this short quip in my previous column dated Nov. 11, 2018. Ombudsman last October 31, the employees claimed PhilHealth Acting President Roy Ferrer earned some P604,080 in professional fees from March 2017 to June 2018, while also receiving about P1.55 million in salaries and allowances since 2017. Let us hear the side of Ferrer. If there’s merit to the accusation, it can really be hazardous to our health.”
Promising that I will always give space to all sides, this is their response through an email sent to me by Dr. Shirley B. Domingo:
“PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Roy B. Ferrer denied in strongest terms the allegations of graft, abuse of authority, and dishonesty which were reportedly contained in a complaint which he himself has yet to receive. The complainants are some 12 PhilHealth employees all of Phil-
one who is from CARAGA region.
“These charges are fueled by misguided retribution because of the organizational reforms I have initiated to improve PhilHealth’s overall performance. Unfortunately, these reforms did not sit well with a few who resist change. We will prove, time and again, that our mandate is bigger than the whims of people whose vision is blinded by misplaced ambition and greed.”
The complainants linked the alleged P4.7-billion loss in 2017 to his performance as chief of the state agency despite being appointed
reconciling claims paid in 2018 but incurred in 2017 and the numbers showed gains of as much as P500million instead of a loss. We already submitted this matter to the CoA 9Commision on Audit) and Bureau of Treasury for validation and concurrence.” he explained.
It was further alleged that Ferrer continued to claim for professional fees even after his appointment as PhilHealth chief on June 5, 2018. However, records show that his last claim for services rendered was for a patient admitted on June 3, 2018 or two days prior to his assumption as Acting PCEO.
He revealed that he even received compensation just recently for a
September 2016.
“I received the payment just last September (2018) for an admission
the timing suspicious since the Re- their corporate-wide efforts to end a
- ing a Congressional hearing early this - - tigated for various violations of civil service rules and other pertinent laws.
“PhilHealth Spokesperson Dr. Shirley B. Domingo said that the Board have promptly acted on the matter, conducted several investigations and filed cases against erring officials. In line with this, a regional VP was charged with grave misconduct, gross insubordination, and gross neglect of duty and was meted a 90-day preventive suspension. Currently, same of-
for this year, this time for 12 counts of administrative offense of gross neglect of duty for approving unlawful claims
Dr. Stephen Magat.
PhilHealth also said that investigations are on-going and several others are currently being investigated over various allegations.
“Another regional vice president has been recently charged and is up for suspension because of gross neglect of duty owing to his consistent poor performance that spanned at least three years. The official concerned is being investigated for his
hospitals complaining about delayed payments of their claims. PhilHeath said that the region has been the slowest in paying claims at an average of 150 days or 90 days overdue.
“The agency’s Board has also af-
who has allowed his personnel to receive salaries for several years without submitting daily time records.
“Domingo said: ‘This is just the beginning since their current PhilHealth Board, composed of DoH Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque [3rd] and the Board of Directors: the DILG Secretary, DSWD Secretary, CSC Chairman, GSIS Chairman, Labor Secretary, SSS Chairman, Finance Secretary, NAPC Chairman and six board members appointed by PRRD, has vowed to institute reforms and do everything in its power