‘A big joke:’ Garin hits Gordon over ‘recycled, baseless’ report recommending raps

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — “A big joke.”

This was how former Health secretary Janette Garin described Wednesday what she called the “Gordon report,” which recommended the filing of criminal charges against her and other officials of the Aquino administration over the alleged misuse of funds in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

In an online press briefing of the House of Representatives’ minority bloc, Garin said that based on her understanding, the report released on Tuesday was not the report of the “Senate as a whole in relation to the PhilHealth fraud.”

Notably, Garin only referred to the report as “Gordon’s report,” referring to Senator Richard Gordon who chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee.

“In one sentence, I will describe Gordon’s report as a big joke! Despite the repeated lambasting of Gordon against me, taking advantage of his position as senator and chairman of the committee on good government, I have kept mum,” Garin said.

“I see no point on wasting my time on recycled, baseless accusations aimed at diverting the real issues. Falsified and twisted statements from Gordon is not new to me,” she added.

Garin said Gordon has “demonized me to the core” for being a member of the Aquino cabinet and for her refusal “to be manipulated by the PhilHealth mafia during my tenure.”

Further, Garin said she does not know of Gordon’s “true intentions and why he keeps on pointing fingers at me.”

“Nagkaroon na ng desisyon ang Ombudsman, mayroon ng real Senate report na palabas, at pati ba naman ghost dialysis scam na nangyari pagkatapos baliktarin yung mga reforms na ginawa namin, eh kasalanan ko pa? Big joke talaga ito,” Garin said.

(The Office of the Ombudsman already had its decision, there had been a real Senate report that came out, now even the ghost dialysis scam that happened after reversing the reforms that we implemented also my fault?)

“Pero sabi nga ng iba, when you point one finger, three fingers are actually pointing back at you,” she added.

(But as they say, when you point one finger, three fingers are actually pointing back at you.)

‘P10.6 billion non-existent’

According to the Senate committee’s report, in 2015, P10.6 billion was allocated for the premium of senior citizens but this amount was “diverted” to the construction of projects of the Department of Health (DOH).

“The loss of P10.6 Billion that was spent on uncompleted projects for political campaign purposes stunted PhilHealth’s financial growth,” the report noted.

The report stated that “by diverting the budget, then DOH Sec. Garin and company put in disrepute the integrity of the PhilHealth fund and derailed the march to efficient and reliable health insurance in this country.”

But Garin argued that if the committee really conducted an investigation on the matter, it would show that the allegations against her do not have basis.

‘Gordon’s accusation is baseless’

“Kung totoong nag-imbestiga si Senator Gordon at hindi lang simpleng axe to grind ito, malalaman niya na walang basehan ang alegasyon ukol sa P10.6 billion na paulit-ulit niyang binabanggit,” Garin said.

(If Senator Gordon really conducted an investigation and not based on simple axe to grind, he will know that the allegation about the P10.6 billion that repeatedly being mentioned is really baseless.)

“That money is part of the Unprogrammed Fund in the 2015 GAA (General Appropriations Act). Bago i-release and budget na ito, may mga kundisyon na kailangan munang maabot,” she added.

Garin cited Section 12 of the special provision of the 2015 GAA which, she said, “provides a share of the DOH on Sin Taxes when the target for tax collection is actually collected.”

The lawmaker said that if the target is reached, DOH can request the budget to implement Universal Health Care, including Millenium Develoment Goals, health awareness programs, medical assistance and health enhancement facilities.

“Target however, was not reached, so no such appropriation was released. This is very clear—paulit-ulit niya tong inungkat, pina-imbestigahan pa ng PhilHealth sa loob at labas, walang nakita,” Garin said.

(He repeatedly unearthing this, even PhilHealth made a investigation, in and out, they find nothing.)

“Why? Because it is very clear that the alleged 10.6B is non-existent,” she added.

JPV