By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Malacañang said yesterday that President Duterte has ordered an investigation on Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
Officer-in-charge Celestina Maria Jude de la Serna for her excessive travels using government funds.
The Commission on Audit has asked De la Serna to explain her travels from Bohol to the PhilHealth office in Pasig City amounting to P627,293.04 in just one year amid the agency’s massive net income loss amounting to P8.92 billion based on its 2017 unaudited financial statement posted online.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte has also ordered a probe on PhilHealth to enable it to fully implement a universal healthcare program in the country.
“Alam ko po iimbestigahan din ‘yan ng Presidente dahil prayoridad po talaga ng Presidente na magbigay ng universal healthcare,” Roque said.
“At talagang kung hindi po malilinis ang hanay ng PhilHealth, hindi po magkakaroon ng katuparan ang universal healthcare,” he added. “So ito lang po ang maipapangako ko po, talagang mabibigyan po ng importansya ang paglilinis sa hanay ng PhilHealth,” Roque said.
De la Serna has appealed to the President to hear her side of the issue and Roque said that this will be heard.
“Well, the matter po naman will be, I think like all controversies, investigated, and everyone will be heard,” he said.
Roque has urged the Ombudsman to act on CoA reports so that cases can be filed against erring officials. He said that the Ombudsman, not just Duterte, should also act on these reports as it is part of its functions.
“Lahat itong report na ito, hindi naman dapat sa Presidente lang ang tinatanong kung ano ang dapat gawin ng Presidente. Talagang kung meron po talagang paglabag sa anti-graft law, ang constitutional body na dapat nagi-imbestiga nito, even motu proprio, should be the Ombudsman,” he said.
“I’m hoping that because the Ombudsman was furnished a copy of these reports, that they will act on these reports.”