Up to COA to audit PhilHealth fund diversion — Duque

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has left it up to the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into the alleged diversion of P10.6-billion funds of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Duque said COA is the best agency to look into the government’s financial expenditures as its constitutional mandate.

“COA is the auditing body that will come out with a report. Let’s wait for that,” he said.

Duque made the statement in reaction to the call of former health chief Janette Garin for an investigation by an “external auditing team.”

Duque pointed out PhilHealth interim president Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna had already filed a graft complaint against Garin and former PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Alexander Padilla over the alleged fund diversion.

The diversion was revealed by Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, chairman of the joint congressional oversight panel, during a hearing last Tuesday.

The funds were allegedly intended for senior citizens but Garin and Padilla supposedly realigned them to rural health programs of the Department of Health in December 2015, raising suspicions that the budget was used by the Liberal Party in the 2016 elections. 

Duque gave assurance the doors are always open to any recommendation that COA and the Office of the Ombudsman may have. 

Dela Serna, however, said they would no longer be issuing statements related to the issues since the case is now pending with the ombudsman. She called a press conference but cancelled it at the last minute. 

Dela Serna reiterated that PhilHealth remains unwavering in its efforts to uphold the ideals of genuine public service.

“We conduct our operations with utmost public accountability to ensure that service remains uninterrupted,” she said.