Liquidation is different from audit.
Say, if public funds were spent not for COVID-19 as required under the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism but for dialysis centers and infirmaries and which are clearly not authorized, it can still be declared as liquidated – but it does not mean funds were legally disbursed.
That is why, as we already know, some former and current PhilHealth officials presently face charges from the DOJ-led task force.
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This is one good reason why the Senate must keep going in performing our oversight function as our collective responsibility to the People of the Philippines.
Modesty aside, most of the pieces of evidence used by the National Bureau of Investigation were culled from the materials that we submitted to the Department of Justice.
We can only hope that this case reaches its logical conclusion to make all those who, without a shred of conscience in their bones, took advantage of a deadly virus to fleece government of funds intended to respond to an unprecedented health crisis that we continue to grapple with.
That said, there is more reason that we should trust DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra and his people at the DOJ and NBI.
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Dapat na pagtuunan ng pansin ng PhilHealth ang paglilinis sa aspetong pananalapi laban sa katiwalian at kawalan ng kakayahan, habang ipinagliban ang mas mataas na singil sa kontribusyon ng mga miyembro nito.
Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, hindi tamang lagakan ng karagdagang pondo ang ahensiya buhat sa kontribusyon ng mga miyembro hanggang hindi pa natitiyak na hindi mapupunta lamang sa mga bulsa ng kung sino ang mga ito.
Idiniin ng senador na maling-mali ang pagpapataw ng karagdagang singil sa mga miyembro kung babalikan ang mga nakaraang karima-rimarim na naganap sa kaban ng ahensiya buhat sa mga kamay ng mga dating nangasiwa.
“It is right to defer the premium hike, at least so that it can review its procedures to get rid of corruption and incompetence. Why punish members with higher premiums for the benefit of the corrupt and the incompetent?” banggit ng mambabatas sa panayam ng TeleRadyo.
“Hiking the premium for individual members is extremely ill-advised, especially as we have yet to resolve where the money lost to corruption went,” diin ng senador.
Related: Lacson: PhilHealth Premium Hike Ill-Advised
Continue reading “Ping: PhilHealth Linisin Na Habang Wala Pa ang Dagdag-Singil sa Kontribusyon ng Mga Miyembro”
The deferment of the increase in monthly premium payments of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) members should allow the state insurer the needed time to rid itself of incompetence and corruption, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Tuesday.
Lacson said the plan to increase premiums for PhilHealth members is very ill-advised especially due to the huge losses it incurred due to the two scourges.
“It is right to defer the premium hike, at least so that it can review its procedures to get rid of corruption and incompetence. Why punish members with higher premiums for the benefit of the corrupt and the incompetent?” he said in an interview on TeleRadyo.
“Hiking the premium for individual members is extremely ill-advised, especially as we have yet to resolve where the money lost to corruption went,” he added.
Related: Ping: PhilHealth Linisin Na Habang Wala Pa ang Dagdag-Singil sa Kontribusyon ng Mga Miyembro
Continue reading “Lacson: PhilHealth Premium Hike Ill-Advised”
In an interview with Senate media, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* likely delay in passage of 2021 budget
* Sec. Duque’s new post at the World Health Organization
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: Likely Delay in Passage of 2021 Budget; Sec. Duque’s WHO Post”
In an interview on DZBB/GNTV, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* options on further actions regarding anomalies at PhilHealth
* possible use of questionable sums in DPWH budget to address budget shortage for health care in 2021
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: Sec. Duque, ‘Di Pa Lusot sa PhilHealth Mess; DPWH Lump Sums, Pondohan ang Universal Health Care?”
I want to read the full text of the report first so I can make a more intelligent analysis and responsive comments.
That said, let me just say at the outset that obviously, the materials that we provided and shared with Sec. Guevarra and the composite task force were put into good use at the very least. This is good reason enough to feel gratified that we did our share in taking the first big step in making those criminally and administratively liable for the misuse and abuse of public monies accountable.
At least, for a change, we can hope that these “vultures” will suffer for their misdeeds to satisfy their greed at the expense of the sick and the unhealthy among our countrymen.
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In an interview on ANC, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* items in the proposed budget for 2021
* PhilHealth anomalies
* appointment of Cezar Mancao II to DICT
QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: ‘Haggling’ in DPWH’s Budget for 2021?”
At the hearing on the proposed 2021 budget, Sen. Lacson stressed the need for greater government support for research and development, especially in the fight against COVID-19. He also raised questions on:
* Information that PhilHealth is not getting full allocations from the sin tax
* Why P30B in COVID-19 response funds remain undisbursed
* NEDA’s ‘Resiliency’ planning
MORE DETAILS…
Continue reading “Huwag Natin Pabayaan! Mas Malaking Suporta ang Kailangan sa R&D vs COVID”
Despite the shameless corruption in PhilHealth, the 2021 Universal Health Care budget deserves full support from Congress. But we can – and must – make our health care program more meaningful by immediately putting in jail all those who stole our money, directly or otherwise.
That said, a PhilHealth under new leadership should make sure that the funds it gets for 2021 to implement the Universal Health Care Act go to the intended beneficiaries instead of its favored few.
In the same way that Congress will contribute to the success of the Universal Health Care Act, PhilHealth and the other agencies tasked with implementing it should not contribute to its failure.
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