Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 17) — The country’s poll body has approved the request of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to exempt state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) from the ban on hiring and movement of employees, as he seeks to conduct reassignment following the “loss of confidence” in certain officers.
In a decision dated Oct. 16, released to the media on Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is allowing Herbosa and PhilHealth’s Board of Directors to “transfer or detail any officer and employee” of the agency in connection with the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia signed the order.
Comelec said Herbosa and the PhilHealth Board of Directors have the authority to reassign from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29 of this year.
The PhilHealth letter approved by Herbosa said the insurance firm was “facing critical operation needs,” prompting it to conduct an independent check on its management.
“The Board expresses its loss of confidence in certain members of the Management Executive Committee… due to their observed incompetence, gross negligence, and ineffective leadership, as manifested by their actions and decisions that have directly and adversely impacted the Corporation,” the letter read.
The PhilHealth officials named were Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Eli Dino Santos, ASVP Nerissa Santiago, SVP Jovita Aragona, SVP Renato Limsiaco, SVP Jose Mari Tolentino, SVP Dennis Mas, and SVP Israel Francis Pargas.
