Morales tags 2 Mindanao VPs of PhilHealth as part of ‘mafia’ with ‘inordinate influence’

MANILA, Philippines — Two regional vice president of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) are part of the so-called mafia involved in corrupt practices within the agency, Ricardo Morales, the president and CEO of the state health insurance agency, revealed during the hearing of Senate Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.

The two executives have “inordinate influence” and “dictate” how the agency is run, according to Morales.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked Morales if he could identify the officials

“At least two ma’am: Alonto and Macabato because I could not move them,” Morales said.

Hontiveros then reminded him that he mentioned in a Senate hearing in August 2019 three vice presidents who were “resisting rotation” and were part of the so-called Mindanao group.

Back then, Morales said he could only name two officials — Alonto and Dennis Andre, PhilHealth Davao Region vice president.

It was a resigned PhilHealth board member, Dr. Roberto Salvador Jr., who then identified Macabato as part of the Mindanao group.

Also in last year’s hearing, Salvador said the group consisted of eight senior PhilHealth officials who were responsible for aiding hospitals in defrauding the state health insurer of billions of pesos, as well as orchestrating the ouster of former PhilHealth presidents.

/atm