Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued a six-month-long preventive suspension against 13 former and current Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) officials.
According to the two separate suspension orders dated August 18, the incumbent Philhealth officials ordered suspended were:
- Dennis Mas, Senior Vice President, Management Services Sector
- Shirley Domingo, Vice President, Corporate Affairs Group
- Rodolfo del Rosario, Jr., Senior Vice President
- Leila Tuazon, Acting Senior Manager Operations, Audit Department
- Clementine Bautista, Vice President, Quality Assurance Group
Ombudsman also issued a suspension against former PhilHealth officials:
- Roy Ferrer
- Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna
- Raul Dominic Badilla
- Israel Paragas
- Angelito Grande
- Lawrence Mijares and
- Eugenio Donatos II
- Ruben Basa
Meanwhile, PhilHealth said in a Twitter post that it has yet to receive a copy of the Ombudsman order.
“PhilHealth has yet to receive a copy of the Ombudsman Order supposedly placing some of its senior officers under preventive suspension. As of this time, the concerned officers are not aware of the charges against them. We will issue a full statement as soon as we get hold of the said order,” the state insurer said.
PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales went on medical leave amid the Senate investigation on the alleged widespread corruption in the agency.
According to Morales, his doctor advised him to go on medical leave while undergoing chemotherapy for his lymphoma.
He added he also decided to follow the advice of his family to take a break and rest from his duties as PhilHealth president.
Resigned PhilHealth senior vice president Augustus De Villa said he quit because of delicadeza.
“Sa kadahilanan ng delicadeza po. Ako po ay isang taong marangal, may dignidad at integridad. Malinis po ang aking konsensiya at naniniwala ako na hindi ako nababagay na magsilbi pa sa isang ahensiya ng gobyerno na punong-puno ng alegasyon ng korapsyon, ng katiwalian,” De Villa said in a Senate hearing.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said Wednesday President Rodrigo Duterte still trusts Health Secretary Francisco Duque III despite his alleged involvement in the anomalies surrounding Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
“He does because if he has ceased to have trust and confidence, then Secretary Duque would no longer be in office,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines in an interview.