Ombudsman Samuel Martires suspended eight PhilHealth senior officials for six months. Those suspended were facing administrative and criminal complaints on the alleged irregular release of P2.7 billion from the state insurer’s interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM).
The officials hit by the suspension were Arnel de Jesus, chief operating officer; Renato Limsiaco and Israel Francis Pargas, senior vice presidents; Gregorio Rulloda, vice president for National Capital Region (NCR); Lolita Tuliao, NCR central branch manager; and Imelda Trinidad de Vera-Pe, Gemma Sibucao and Lailani Padua, executives.
“After a thorough consideration of the records, this office finds sufficient cause to place respondents under preventive suspension…,” the Ombudsman’s seven-page order said.
Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigation filed charges of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the service’s best interest against the eight officials and former PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales.
Former PhilHealth president and CEO Morales resigned in August due to health reasons.
According to NBI, the IRM funds appropriated for COVID-19 response were distributed to predetermined healthcare institutions, including those that did not have COVID-19 patients.
Ombudsman suspends 8 PhilHealth senior execs
“Respondents facilitated these anomalies by affixing their signatures on official documents causing the release of the questioned IRM funds. These documents include the document review and assessment request recommending the approval of fund requests of HCIs, memoranda of agreement with HCIs, and disbursement vouchers, among other things,” Martires said.
The Ombudsman said that “since the respondents’ respective positions allow them to wield influence on possible witnesses and to access public records, their continued stay in office may not only prejudice the cases against them but allow them to commit further acts of malfeasance.”
He also directed PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran to implement the suspension order.
“This consolidated order is immediately executory and shall not be interrupted within the period prescribed, notwithstanding any motion, appeal, or petition that may be filed by respondents seeking relief from this consolidated order unless otherwise ordered by this office or by any court of competent jurisdiction,” the Ombudsman said.