Duque on Garin’s plan to sue ex-PhilHealth officials: It’s up to her

FILE: At a press briefing early this week in Iloilo, Garin said that her lawyer is looking into the possibility of filing criminal and administrative cases against former PhilHealth officer-in-charge Celestina Jude Dela Serna. (Photo: Department of Health (Philippine)/Facebook)

MANILA — Former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette Garin has the right to file cases against former officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) following accusations that she allegedly diverted the PHP10.6 billion originally meant for the payment of senior citizens’ insurance premiums to establish rural health units (RHUs), DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

“‘Di mag-file siya (She/Garin can file it). This is a democratic country. If anyone wants to file a complaint they can,” said Duque in an interview. “At the end of the day, (the question is) will it prosper, right,” added Duque, who also sits as chairman of PhilHealth Board of Directors.

At a press briefing early this week in Iloilo, Garin said that her lawyer is looking into the possibility of filing criminal and administrative cases against former PhilHealth officer-in-charge Celestina Jude Dela Serna. She added that they are also looking at filing a case against Reuben Basa, former PhilHealth Senior Vice-President for health finance policy sector.

Duque recalled that it was actually PhilHealth, headed by Dela Serna who first filed the complaint last March 2018 against Garin and former PhilHealth CEO and President Alexander Padilla in the Ombudsman through a decision approved by the entire board.

In the said complaint, Garin and Padilla were accused to have used the money for construction of RHUs for its Tamang Serbisyo sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya (TSeKAP), equipment for barangay health stations, and other programs instead of payment as premium contributions of indigent senior citizens.

Both accused had denied in some interviews the existence of the said alleged diversions. Garin and Padilla had argued that no diversion had occurred since the said money did not enter coffers of PhilHealth.

Duque insisted that he disagrees with the arguments of the former officials.

“They issued a letter of waiver which means that in that letter the message was–PhilHealth doesn’t need the PHP10.6 billion. And, I disagree, because the senior citizens premium contribution are extremely important in sustaining the actuarial life of the PhilHealth funds,” Duque added.

He further said that absence of Board of Directors’ approval and actuarial implication certification on the letters of the waiver signed by Garin and Padilla “speak for itself the intention to divert the funds”.

“It is very clear on the letters where they affixed their signatures. They are the ones who signed and no one else,” he said.

He added that it is a standard protocol that any amount that enters and goes out of PhilHealth should be accompanied by certification which are important to determine the adequacy of the funds.