Former PhilHealth exec says Roque’s complaint was ‘selective,’ ‘baseless’

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) board member Anthony Leachon has denounced as “selective” and “baseless” the cases filed against him and 10 others for allegedly reaccrediting an erring hospital in Cebu.

Leachon said PhilHealth chair and Department of Health Sec. Francisco Duque III, Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello III, Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez and SSS President Emmanuel Dooc also signed the PhilHealth decision that overturned a 2015 Court of Appeals ruling suspending Perpetual Succour Hospital Inc. for illegally extending the confinement period of a patient.

“Kulang kulang po ‘yung hinabla nya run, mukhang selective po eh,” Leachon said, referring to lawyer and former presidential spokesman Harry Roque who filed the cases before the Office of the Ombudsman Thursday.

Denying the allegations of graft, usurpation of judicial functions and grave misconduct against him, Leachon said the decision on the Cebu hospital was a “collegial decision” which he said he had opposed.

“Dapat kasama ang chairman of the board, ibang ex-officio members na pumirma. Pumirma dyan si Sec. Duque, pumirma dyan si Sec. Bello, si Carlos Dominguez, Emmanuel Dooc ng SSS,” he added.

Although he has yet to receive a copy of the complaints, Leachon said he would elaborate his “explosive” knowledge on the issue at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Sept. 5 where he was invited to attend.

In his complaint, Roque said the lifting of the suspension on the hospital had cost PhilHealth P90 million.

READ: PhilHealth execs sued for reversing Cebu hospital suspension

Also included in Roque’s complaint were ex-PhilHealth president Roy Ferrer, Ruperto Aleroza, Celestina de la Serna, Eddie Dorotan, Joan Lareza, Hildegardes Dineros, Roberto Salvador Jr., Charade Grande, Jonathan Mangaoang, and Lora Mangasa, all board members of PhilHealth in 2017.  /muf