11 PhilHealth execs cleared of graft

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the graft and administrative cases filed against 11 incumbent and former officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. in connection with the suspension, reassignment and dismissal of several PhilHealth employees from 2017 to 2019.

The ombudsman said there is no sufficient evidence to sustain the complaints against PhilHealth senior vice president for management services Dennis Mas, SVP for health finance policy Israel Pargas, SVP for legal Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. and VP for corporate affairs Shirley Domingo.

Also cleared were former PhilHealth acting president and chief executive officer Roy Ferrer and his predecessor, Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna.

Ferrer was appointed by President Duterte as assistant secretary of the Department of Health in February last year.

Also cleared of the charges were PhilHealth executive vice president and chief operating officer Ruben John Basa, supervising health program officer Raul Dominic Badilla, corporate legal counsel Angelito Grande, regional officer for National Capital Region Lawrence Mijares and acting senior manager for human resources Leila Tuazon.

The cases were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in May 2019 by PhilHealth employees Miriam Grace Pamonag, Jelbert Galicto, Dennis Adre, William Chavez, Paolo Johann Perez, Khaliquzzman Macabato and Valerie Anne Hollero.

The complainants were suspended by PhilHealth over the allegedly unlawful processing of Christmas bonuses and approval of erroneous claims and other inappropriate conduct.

PhilHealth dismissed Pamonag from the service after the board denied her appeal.