Corruption at PhilHealth

Health Secretary Enrique Ona who serves as ex officio chairman of PhilHealth confirmed that a syndicate in connivance with some PhilHealth officials have diverted about P130 million in premium payments made by a major BDO company. Sec. Ona said an investigation is ongoing.

The checks were encashed in a bank in Tanauan, Batangas. Land Bank has denied that any of their branches was involved and that a bank cashier has been killed. The info we got from Sec. Ona is it is another bank’s branch that encashed the checks. Our sources clarified the bank official committed suicide. Our apologies to Land Bank.

This is a major case of corruption under the Aquino Administration.

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LESSONS. . . Storm Sendong has brought out several lessons. First, gyms that are equipped as evacuation centers complete with at least 12 toilets and water tanks should be built in high areas.

All major towns and cities should have water filtration machines in the same way that they have standby generators. Not only residences but schools in flood prone areas should also be relocated.

Calamity funds should be increased and should be promptly released to local governments.

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DIOKNO’S VIEWS (2). . . The government’s allocation of P142 billion for infrastructure construction is not enough. He suggests P500 billion to be allocated to adequately pump prime the economy.

Diokno observed that 1 year and a half is too long a period for cleaning up. He maintained that there is still corruption ongoing. Diokno made the following suggestions:

1. Infrastructure — allocate 5% of GDP from the present 1.5%;

2. Education — build all the 66,000 schoolrooms needed;

3. CCT is not an anti poverty program. It should be refocused;

4. Lower interest rates — BSP must effect this to stimulate the economy;

5. Local governments must now participate actively and use their P300B IRA properly.

DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson said he has P125 billion in the 2012 budget. He will give priority to roads and bridges and expects to employ 100,000 workers. He admits we are way behind our Asian neighbors in infrastructure construction.

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TRIAL BY PUBLICITY. . . With the Senate trial to start by January 16, the House prosecutors and Malacañang are commenting daily on the Corona impeachment case. This is clearly a case of trial by publicity. This is a clear case of trying to influence the Senator Judges to vote for impeachment.

While there is no sub judice rule applicable to impeachment trials, fair play requires that we now leave it to the Senate proceedings to handle the evidence without revealing it piece by piece to media.

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NEW YEAR VIOLENCE. . . Ronald Cruz massacred 3 family members with a 9 MM pistol in Tondo. Alex Reich, a Swiss national was found dead in Antipolo. Pacita Paborial and Cristina Paborial were shot dead by a drunk assailant in Camarines Sur.

Basketball Coach Pido Jarencio lost P2 million to burglars in Quezon City. Marlon Zapanta, a BIR examiner was robbed of P500,000 in cash and valuables in Lucena City.

Romeo Santos, 38, was shot dead in Barangay Purisima, QC. Fernando Mendoza, 17, was shot dead before his girlfriend in front of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila by a lone gunman riding a motorcycle on New Year’s Eve.

PO2 Rufino Rapacon was knifed to death in a basketball court in Bantay, Ilocos Sur when he tried to pacify quarrelling players. His pregnant wife, SPO1 Florencia Rapacon was also stabbed when she tried to help her husband.

Mariel C. Pagaduan, 24, Ruel Rolino and Ronnel Dordas were killed in a span of a few hours after midnight Jan. 1. Mariel Pagaduan was shot in the head at 3:30 a.m. as she was about to enter her house. Dordas and Rolino were stabbed to death.

Six barangay officials were shot dead in San Pablo City last year.

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OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT. . . Congressman Victor F. Ortega (La Union, 1st district) has served in various positions in 56 years. He is on his 5th term as a Congressman, serving as Deputy Speaker and Minority Floorleader. He was elected and served as Governor and Vice Governor for 12 years.

He was elected as a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. He started his public service career in 1958 when he served as a Legal Assistant at the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

He finished his Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo Law School and his Doctor of Laws at the Universidad Central de Madrid in 1961.

He is held in high respect by his fellow Representatives as proven by the fact that he was elected chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and as Chairman of the Committee on Inter Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy despite being a member of the minority Lakas-CMD party.

He has done his homework as he has cemented all roads in his first district of La Union and has extended scholarships to thousands of indigent students.

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TIDBITS. . . PO2 Randy dela Rea of the Imus Police Station was honored for saving 16 lives at Bayug Island, Iligan where he was vacationing. He helped the survivors climb up a mango tree to avoid being carried away by the floods.

Firecracker casualties have reached 823 while stray bullet cases reached 26.

Donation: Lucio Tan committed to build 300 housing units in Cagayan de Oro. The Federation of Chinese Chambers of Commerce, Inc. committed 100 more. Lanao del Norte and the Turkish Foundation ICAD distributed 5,000 packs of rice. The cast of the “Sound of Music” at Resorts World donated one day’s salary to Sendong victims.

New Year’s greetings to Vicky and Wilman Polisco, Ronnie and Eduardo Regala, Lita Ramos, Roy Sinfuego, Baby Lim, Nancy Irlanda Tanjuatco and Greggy and Dra. Licaros.