Even after her dismissal, former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) interim president Celestina de la Serna should be charged for “mismanaging” the funds of the national health insurer, Senator JV Ejercito said on Monday.
Ejercito also said charges must also be filed against former PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla and former Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin.
“Not only De La Serna, but all the past PhilHealth officials like Garin and Padilla responsible for mismanaging the funds resulting in its current sorry financial state right now,” Ejercito said in a message to reporters.
Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography that launched an investigation on PhilHealth’s financial performance, was reacting to President Rodrigo Duterte’s firing of De La Serna over allegedly excessive trips and allowances.
Duterte has appointed Dr. Roy Ferrer, a PhilHealth board member, as acting president.
Ejercito has reiterated his earlier suggestion for the President to appoint a financial expert who can manage PhilHealth’s funds and investment portfolio.
“With PhilHealth’s current situation, and not to undermine capabilities of doctors, we really need a financial wiz to fix all its troubles!” he said.
The senator said the collapse of PhilHealth looms if the current financial management would continue.
READ: JV Ejercito: PhilHealth could collapse if mismanagement continues
Garin and Padilla were slapped with a graft complaint for the alleged diversion of P10.69 billion PhilHealth fund meant for senior citizens to the construction of rural health clinics in 2015. /vvp
READ: PhilHealth sues ex-DOH chief for graft