You had me at ‘released’ but…

Regular readers of my column Ctalk know that, given the opportunity, I readily compliment President Bongbong Marcos for the things he does well. In particular, his being pro-business is something I readily support because it is good for the country.

Last week, I watched news reports of President Bongbong Marcos celebrating his 67th birthday by visiting different LGUs and announcing the release of P3.19 billion to 82 provinces in the form of financial assistance and services in tertiary government hospitals. It was even mentioned that hospital bills for that day would be waived.

The news reports also highlighted the distribution of 129 ambulances and financial assistance to 22 government hospitals amounting to P328 million. Among the recipients was the PCMC or Philippine Children’s Medical Center, which I believe the President also paid a visit to.

Public health is a topic close to my heart and anyone who supports government hospitals deserves recognition. After watching the news items, the President almost had me at released P3.19 billion.” But in the days that followed, I read, I watched and I heard all the reactions to the P89.9-billion fund transfer from PhilHealth to the National Treasury for unprogrammed projects.

Last Saturday, I received a YouTube link featuring the congressional testimony of the vice chairman of PhilHealth Emmanuel Rufino Ledesma when questioned by Senator Bong Go, chairman of the Senate committee on health regarding the transfer or release of P89.9 billion.

Ledesma casually and confidently stated:

“I received a directive which emanated from a Cabinet meeting, led by President Marcos, asking me to remit the 89.9 billion, so like a good soldier, I am following them. Now, I am not a lawyer po, so I made sure before I did it, I got clearance from COA, GCG, OGCC and SOLGEN…”

Ledesma went on to say that everyone he consulted said that the transfer was deemed legal. In response, Senator Bong Go pointed out it may be deemed legal, but it is not moral, considering there are so many patients in life and death situations. Ledesma responded, saying: “I am just an ordinary member of this government, I was asked to do something, how can I go against it, sir?”

Giving away 129 ambulances and releasing P3.19 billion of taxpayer’s money during the President’s birthday still leaves a difference of P86.71 billion of PhilHealth funds that people believe will come from member donations, taxes that are paid by people who want to drink, smoke and gamble, as well payments of the national government and local governments for member contributions of their employees.

So instead of pouring praises on the President for his “pa-birthday,” I now have to ask if the timing of his activity releasing P3.19 billion was just coincidental to the same week that the PhilHealth fund transfer was under investigation at the Senate?

As I pointed out, the President’s activity certainly made him look good. But was it intended and timed to soften or diffuse the fallout that would come out of the Senate hearing and certainly hurt his ratings? It would be unfair to assume, but if his own appointee and good friend Mr. Ledesma pointed the finger at PBBM who ordered him, then the P3.19 billion was not a gift but an adding insult to the P89.9-billion injury to PhilHealth.

In the words of the late great actor Eddie Garcia: “Sa tanda kong ito, na-tanso mo pa ako!”

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The on-going controversy over PhilHealth funds is revealing a number of things and the beauty of the internet is that different people see different angles of the crisis.

While their vice chairman states that he was just being a good soldier who checked if everything was legal before acting, the chairman of the PhilHealth board and DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa has managed to explain that the controversial P89.9 billion we are all talking about does not come from member contributions and the like.

Herbosa stated in an interview with Karen Davila of ANC that it was money requested from the national government to be spent for senior citizens, PWDs, etc. but was not spent in the last three years. As a result, and as provided by law, the unspent amount must be returned to the national government.

Herbosa stated that it was a case of inefficiency on the part of the PhilHealth. The secretary also shared that PhilHealth owes the Department of Health P15 billion for services rendered to its members aside from another P10 to P15 billion owned to private hospitals.

Watching different videos of Ledesma and Herbosa, it is apparent that they are reading two different playbooks, or they don’t like each other. They also both seem to forget that they are in the same boat as chairman and vice chairman of the board of PhilHealth, making them accountable in some form for the “inefficiency” to utilize needed and available funds for the seniors, PWDs, etc.

A quick check on the internet shows that both officials have been in office and on the PhilHealth Board for one year and two months (+/-). None of their explanations exempt them from their failure to address the P89.9-billion inefficiency or incompetence right under their noses. They should both go to PBBM with begging bowls so they can pay for the P30 billion owed to DOH and private hospitals.

President Bongbong Marcos was able to release and distribute P3.19 billion to 82 provinces, 22 government hospitals and give away 129 ambulances all in “one day.” Vice President Sara Duterte allegedly spent P125 million in confidential and intelligence funds in 11 days. How could the PhilHealth officials ask for P89.9 billion from the national government, then fail to spend it in 365 days under Herbosa and Ledesma?