Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19) — Ombudsman Samuel Martires has ordered the suspension of 13 PhilHealth officials amid an ongoing probe into alleged corruption in the agency, according to a highly-placed source and copies of documents shared by a lawmaker.
Meanwhile, Senator Migz Zubiri welcomed the news on the suspension.
Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin on Wednesday shared images of the order signed by Martires, saying the following officials were to be put under presentive suspension for six months without pay:
Roy B. Ferrer
Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna
Ruben John A. Basa
Dennis S. Mas
Shirley B. Domingo
Rodolfo Del Rosario Jr.
Raul Cominic Badilla
Israel Pargas
Angelito Grande
Lawrence Mijares
Leila Tuazon
In a message to reporters, he said, “That is great news! A small victory in our fight against the corruption in the Government’s Health Insurance agency. I totally laud the Ombudsman on this.”
Another order named the following suspended for six months:
Roy B. Ferrer
Ruben John Basa
Clementine A. Bautista
Angelito Grande
Eugenio G. Donatos II
Zubiri filed a resolution on Wednesday asking the Office of the President to preventively suspend PhilHealth’s top management and those involved in alleged corruption within the agency.
It was not clear how Ferrer, Basa, and Grande would serve their suspensions.
The highly-placed source told CNN Philippines the order was issued for serving on Wednesday, and that it stems from an old complaint and is not COVID-19 related.
According to Section 24 of Republic Act No. 6770, the Office of the Ombudsman is allowed to issue preventive suspension without pay, “if, in the judgment of the Ombudsman or his proper deputy, the evidence of guilt is strong and (a) the charge against such officer or employee involves dishonesty, oppression or gross misconduct, or gross neglect in the performance of duty; or (b) the charge would warrant removal from the service; or (c) the respondent’s continued stay in office may prejudice the just, fair and independent disposition of the case filed against him.”
PhilHealth is under intense scrutiny from lawmakers after key whistleblower Thorrsson Montes Keith, former anti-fraud legal officer of PhilHealth, accused key officials of stealing P15 billion from the agency using different fraudulent schemes. The amount covers alleged unauthorized release of interim reimbursement mechanisms, funds allocated for “fortuitous events” such as the pandemic, to hospitals that have not yet recorded COVID-19 cases.
