Tag: Ricardo Morales

Radio, Statements, Videos

Signs of Hope for PhilHealth

On the Resignation of PhilHealth SVP del Rosario:

Atty. del Rosario’s irrevocable resignation is one of many reasons to hope for some good things to come in view of the ongoing DOJ-led Task Force investigating the recent PhilHealth anomalies. The paying members and all taxpayers who contribute to the state health insurance fund surely deserve a break from the cyclical corruption involving its top executives.

DOJ Sec. Guevarra being on top of the situation, with full support being extended by the President, is something that we did not see in past investigations of PhilHealth anomalies.

We can only pray and hope that the renewed effort will be sustained all the way to its logical conclusion.

On PCEO Ricardo Morales:

I feel sorry for PCEO Morales, not for anything else but for his health condition. I hate to think that the stress brought about by the intense hearings of the Senate Committee of the Whole may have taken a toll on his already infirm health condition.

In spite of his possible complicity that could make him face some serious legal problems stemming from the report of the Senate Committee of the Whole, I still wish that he wins his bout against cancer and recovers.

*****

QUOTES and NOTES:
 Continue reading “Signs of Hope for PhilHealth” →

In the News, Radio, Statements, TV

#PINGterview: Mga Pwede Kasuhan sa PhilHealth, Tukoy Na

In an interview on DZBB/GNTV, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* charges that may be filed vs accountable PhilHealth execs
* who is the PhilHealth mafia
* remedial legislation
* cooperation of task force led by DOJ

QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: Mga Pwede Kasuhan sa PhilHealth, Tukoy Na” →

Statements

What Filipinos Deserve: A Corruption-Free PhilHealth, a Competent DOH Secretary

In 2004, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III was PhilHealth president when it illegally diverted P500 million in OWWA Medicare funds to buy PhilHealth cards bearing ex-President and then presidential candidate Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s picture with the acronym GMA (Greater Medical Access) and GMA Para sa Masa, Para sa Lahat. The cards were distributed to areas where they knew they would lose against the late Fernando Poe Jr.

After her 2004 “victory,” Mrs. Arroyo rewarded PhilHealth president Duque with an appointment as DOH Secretary.

Fast forward to 2020, where under new PCEO Ricardo Morales – and Duque as ex-officio chairman – PhilHealth tried to collect premiums from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), notwithstanding their classification as a special sector. This amid a flawed if not perverted implementation of its Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) for health care institutions handling COVID-19 cases, gross overpricing in its procurement of IT equipment, and the doctoring of its financial statements.

The President’s trust and confidence notwithstanding, Filipinos don’t deserve a state health insurance that is so corrupt, made possible by officials entrusted with mandatory monthly deductions from hard-earned salaries of ordinary employees.

As for Sec. Duque, he has stayed too long in the DOH and PhilHealth in different capacities. He admitted in a public hearing that he has given his best but it wasn’t good enough.

More than public interest, public health is imperiled with Sec. Duque at the helm of DOH. Notwithstanding the trust and confidence reposed on him by the appointing authority, Filipinos deserve a good, competent, honest and capable DOH Secretary.

*****

In the News, Radio, Statements, TV

Questions for the “Big Elephant” on the PhilHealth Mess

When he appears on Tuesday, I’ll ask him, being the incumbent ex-officio chairman of PhilHealth who was present during the shouting match in their last board meeting that effectively triggered these controversies, why he has been very quiet in spite of all the anomalies being openly discussed with so many unanswered questions involving highly questionable transactions by PhilHealth in the procurement of IT equipment, IRM funds distribution and manipulation of the agency’s financial statements which no less than COA has red-flagged on top of recurring disallowances and suspension in billions of pesos year in and year out.

I’ll ask him what he intends to do or recommend to the President.

*****

QUOTES FROM DZBB/GNTV INTERVIEW…
Continue reading “Questions for the “Big Elephant” on the PhilHealth Mess” →

In the News, Statements, Videos

#PINGterview: Katiwalian sa PhilHealth: Ang ‘Bigating’ B. Braun Avitum

In interviews with Senate media and on ABS-CBN TeleRadyo, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* favorable treatment by PhilHealth officials of B Braun Avitum Dialysis Center
* discrimination in IRM, optional liquidation of funds and more questionable schemes
* Senate to share findings with parallel investigations by the executive branch

QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: Katiwalian sa PhilHealth: Ang ‘Bigating’ B. Braun Avitum” →

Hearings/Investigations, Photos, Videos

Sinong Kampon at Sino si Satanas? More Irregularities at PhilHealth Bared

At the Aug. 11, 2020 hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole regarding corruption at PhilHealth, Sen. Lacson bared more irregularities involving issues such as the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism and procurement of IT equipment. He also called for a “special special audit” of PhilHealth – and called out a PhilHealth executive for alluding to investigators as “kampon ni Satanas.”

QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “Sinong Kampon at Sino si Satanas? More Irregularities at PhilHealth Bared” →

Radio, Statements

On Some PhilHealth Officials’ Non-Attendance at the Senate’s Aug. 11 Hearing
At least two PhilHealth officials cannot attend the Senate’s Aug. 11 hearing for medical reasons.

Their failure to attend Tuesday’s hearing is their loss, not the Senate’s, simply because they won’t be there to respond to new issues to be brought up by resource persons and some new incriminating documents in our possession.

Having said that, I wish PhilHealth President-CEO Morales well in his fight against the Big C. In all sincerity, I join his family in praying for his recovery. It is unfortunate that these new corruption issues have exploded at a time when his health condition is at a low point.

*****

QUOTES FROM DWIZ INTERVIEW:
 Continue reading “On Some PhilHealth Officials’ Non-Attendance at the Senate’s Aug. 11 Hearing” →

In the News, Statements, Videos

#PINGterview: Security Concerns for PhilHealth Mess ‘Witnesses’

In an interview with Senate media, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* PhilHealth officials evasive answers at Senate hearing
* Security concerns of prospective witnesses
* Gen. Morales, misled o co-opted?

QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: Security Concerns for PhilHealth Mess ‘Witnesses’” →

In the News, Statements, Videos

#PINGterview: Senate Hearing on PhilHealth Corruption | August 3, 2020

In an interview with Senate media, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
* Senate Committee of the Whole hearing on corruption at PhilHealth on Aug. 4
* Calls for DOH Secretary Duque’s resignation
* Medical frontliners’ plight

QUOTES and NOTES:
 Continue reading “#PINGterview: Senate Hearing on PhilHealth Corruption | August 3, 2020” →

In the News, Radio, Statements, TV

#PINGterview: 3 Strikes sa PhilHealth; Wala Nang Mapuntahan Kundi Mag-Resign?

In an interview on DZBB and GMA News TV, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* Senate efforts to address COVID-19 situation [01:48]
* 3 issues hounding PhilHealth that the Senate probe will focus on [04:33]

QUOTES and NOTES:
Continue reading “#PINGterview: 3 Strikes sa PhilHealth; Wala Nang Mapuntahan Kundi Mag-Resign?” →

In the News, Radio, Statements

#PINGterview: Dapat May Makulong na sa Katiwalian sa PhilHealth!

In an interview on DWIZ, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
* Expectations at President Duterte’s SONA [00:11]
* Latest corruption and mismanagement at PhilHealth [07:20]
* Claims that IATF is a failure in dealing with COVID-19 [37:04]

QUOTES and NOTES:
 Continue reading “#PINGterview: Dapat May Makulong na sa Katiwalian sa PhilHealth!” →

Hearings/Investigations, Videos

Seeking Clarifications on the PhilHealth’s COVID Tests

At the hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole on the government’s response against COVID-19, Sen. Lacson relayed to the appropriate officials some questions from the public on the tests by PhilHealth and Philippine Red Cross. “We’re not finding fault here… Nang lumabas na 45% ng tests ang na-conduct ng Red Cross, maraming natuwa (kasi ang) impression na dumating sa kanila, libre. Mabuti at maliwanagan ang kababayan natin na may protocols na dapat sundin.”

For his part, PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales said they will publish guidelines to clarify the issue on who can qualify for free COVID-19 testing under PhilHealth, “so the public will be informed.”