(Eagle News) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has filed a graft complaint against former Health Secretary Janette Garin over the alleged diversion of P10.69 billion funds intended for senior citizens.
Interim PhilHealth president Celestina Ma. Jude de la Serna also charged former PhilHealth president Alex Padilla, saying the funds were used for the construction of rural health facilities in 2015 instead despite the move not being sanctioned by the board of directors.
The complaint was filed on March 27 but was made available only recently.
In a press conference on Wednesday, May 30, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III released the letter signed by both Garin and Padilla that he said was “evidence by itself” that funds had indeed been diverted.
In the letter addressed to then-Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Padilla was seen requesting for the “immediate release” of the amount to “augment” the Health Facilities Enhancement Program.
The funds, the letter said, would be used specifically for the construction of Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya (TSeKAP)” health stations in identified public elementary schools, equipment provision for barangay health stations for TSeKAP accreditation, infrastructure upgrading and equipment provision for rural health units and urban health centers in compliance with requirements for PhilHealth 3-in-1 accreditation, maternal care package, and TB-directly observed treatment, short-courses.
A certification issued by the Department of Budget and Management under Secretary Ben Diokno on May 9,2018, however, showed that based on available documents, P8,351,000,000 were sourced from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund Savings for the construction of rural health units and barangay health stations.
Over P3 billion, or P3,556,155,900, were sourced from the same for the purchase of dengue vaccines, the certification issued upon the request of Duque said.
“Ang DBM ang makakasagot niyan, nung panahon ni Secretary Abad. Sa akin lang, ang masasabi ko, yung P10.6 billion in the hearing yesterday sa Senate, may missing link. Yung missing link, yun bang paglipat noon sa General Fund ba, and then from the general fund ba, nalipat sa miscellaneous personnel benefit fund?” Duque said.
Garin and several former government officials, including former President Benigno Aquino III, is also facing charges over the Dengvaxia mess.
Early May, President Duterte ordered an investigation into Dela Serna’s alleged excessive trips and allowances.