The vice president of PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) in Western Visayas has filed a leave of absence amid the ongoing investigations into alleged anomalies hounding the government-owned health insurer.
Lawyer Valerie Anne Hollero is among the six PhilHealth officials who decided to go on leave starting on Monday, Aug. 17.
The five others are Paolo Johann Perez (Region IV-B), Datu Masiding Alonto Jr. (Region X), Atty. Khaliquzzman Macabato (BARMM), Dennis Adre (floating status since September 2019) and William Chavez (floating status since September 2019).
“Taking heed of the DOJ (Department of Justice) call and in support of the investigation, and since our names have once again been mentioned, we have decided to voluntarily file our official leaves except for the two among us who remain in floating status,” the officials said in their Aug. 15 letter to PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Arnel de Jesus.
“This will give investigators a free hand in finding out those responsible and finally bring them to account,” they added.
In a report by ABS-CBN News, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the six officials are not members of the so-called “mafia” in the agency.
“They were, in fact, referred to as ‘heroes’ by PhilHealth board member Alejandro Cabading during his Senate testimonies,” Roque said.
“We consider this as the right and proper thing to do,” Roque said of the six officials’ action to go on leave.
PhilHealth is subjected to separate investigations of the House of Representatives, Senate, and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) due to the alleged “widespread corruption” in the agency. IMT
