Duterte fires Philhealth chief

PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte has fired acting Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) President and Chief Executive Officer Celestina Maria Jude de La Serna.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Dela Serna was fired after the Office of the President investigated many complaints against her, including excessive trips and lavish lifestyle amid the P8-billion deficit incurred by Philhealth under her watch.

“I can confirm that a senior Palace official did an investigation and I could confirm that a recommendation was made to fire her,” he said, but Dela Serna was removed as acting Philhealth chief and she remains as member of the Philhealth Board of Directors.

Dela Serna has been blamed for Philhealth’s failure to fully implement the Universal Health Care law, which provides free medicine for everyone. “We need a complete, honest Philhealth (chief ) if we are going to have a successful universal health care. So the complaints against her and that Philhealth has incurred a deficit is unacceptable because it is important to protect the viability of Philhealth,” Roque explained.

Roque said Roy Ferrer, a member of Philhealth’s Board of Directors, was named as acting president and CEO of the agency. He said Duterte still might appoint another person to head Philhealth since Ferrer, a native of Davao, is just an officer-in-charge.

“He is still an OIC. I think it is not (a) permanent appointment and therefore the President has not closed his option on who will be the eventual Philhealth president,” he said.