By Ali Macabalang
COTABATO CITY – Key officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) or PhilHealth have accused their acting president and CEO of alleged graft and corrupt practices, malversation of funds, abuse of authority, and grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to public interest.
Dr. Roy Benedicto Ferrer
(Philhealth / MANILA BULLETIN) Dr. Roy Benedicto Ferrer, PHIC acting president and CEO, as named as sole respondent in a 23-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman-Mindanao on October 31 by lawyers Jelbert Galicto, Suzette Punay, Patrick Angelo Uy, Khristin Tan, Germaine Tan, Johana Blazon, Christopher Molina, Rosalie Ann Bajo, Ma. Teresa Tesoro, Mary Grace Socorro Gonzalo, Jonas Matthew Pang, and Filbert Bryan Sollesta, all key PhilHealth officials. In a press statement, the 12 complainants alleged that the PHIC “lost P4.75-billion last year” and that the problem has been “compounded” by purported malfeasances of Dr. Ferrer. In February 2017, they said Ferrer was appointed member of the PHIC Board of Directors, but three months later, he applied for and was granted a three-year PhilHealth accreditation as healthcare professional by then PHIC Regional Vice President (Davao City) Rodolfo Del Rosario Jr. Del Rosario was earlier named head of PHIC-Davao allegedly at the behest of Dr. Ferrer, they said. They pointed out that Ferrer was appointed PHIC acting president/CEO by President Duterte on June 5, 2018 but he did not relinquish his healthcare accreditation, allegedly continuing to collect “professional fees” amounting to at least P604,080.00 in addition to his salaries and allowances worth P1.55M in 2017 alone as agency official. While acting as PHIC official and at same time as accredited healthcare professional, Dr. Ferrer also allegedly usurped the authority of PHIC field officials in the country by holding and presiding over regional management committee (ManCom) conferences in Davao City. In their complaint, the 12 complainants charged Ferrer before the Ombudsman for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of Public Funds, the National Health Insurance Act, and the Ethical Standards of Public Employees (R.A. 6713), among other administrative offenses of grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Except for lawyer Galicot, who heads the PHIC regional office in Caraga, all 12 complainants are ManCom officials in Davao region, according to lawyer Khaliq Macabato, regional vice president for Muslim Mindanao, who is also poised to file a follow-up suit against Ferrer. The complainants are asking for the preventive suspension of Ferrer pending deliberation of the case, his eventual perennial dismissal, and disqualification from public office, and other judicial reliefs. They also asked that a Congressional inquiry be conducted on the administrative and fiscal operations of the PHIC in aid of legislation that may lead to improved management of the health insurance agency, The Manila Bulletin tried but failed to reach Dr. Ferrer for his reaction as of press time.
Dr. Roy Benedicto Ferrer(Philhealth / MANILA BULLETIN) Dr. Roy Benedicto Ferrer, PHIC acting president and CEO, as named as sole respondent in a 23-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman-Mindanao on October 31 by lawyers Jelbert Galicto, Suzette Punay, Patrick Angelo Uy, Khristin Tan, Germaine Tan, Johana Blazon, Christopher Molina, Rosalie Ann Bajo, Ma. Teresa Tesoro, Mary Grace Socorro Gonzalo, Jonas Matthew Pang, and Filbert Bryan Sollesta, all key PhilHealth officials. In a press statement, the 12 complainants alleged that the PHIC “lost P4.75-billion last year” and that the problem has been “compounded” by purported malfeasances of Dr. Ferrer. In February 2017, they said Ferrer was appointed member of the PHIC Board of Directors, but three months later, he applied for and was granted a three-year PhilHealth accreditation as healthcare professional by then PHIC Regional Vice President (Davao City) Rodolfo Del Rosario Jr. Del Rosario was earlier named head of PHIC-Davao allegedly at the behest of Dr. Ferrer, they said. They pointed out that Ferrer was appointed PHIC acting president/CEO by President Duterte on June 5, 2018 but he did not relinquish his healthcare accreditation, allegedly continuing to collect “professional fees” amounting to at least P604,080.00 in addition to his salaries and allowances worth P1.55M in 2017 alone as agency official. While acting as PHIC official and at same time as accredited healthcare professional, Dr. Ferrer also allegedly usurped the authority of PHIC field officials in the country by holding and presiding over regional management committee (ManCom) conferences in Davao City. In their complaint, the 12 complainants charged Ferrer before the Ombudsman for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of Public Funds, the National Health Insurance Act, and the Ethical Standards of Public Employees (R.A. 6713), among other administrative offenses of grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Except for lawyer Galicot, who heads the PHIC regional office in Caraga, all 12 complainants are ManCom officials in Davao region, according to lawyer Khaliq Macabato, regional vice president for Muslim Mindanao, who is also poised to file a follow-up suit against Ferrer. The complainants are asking for the preventive suspension of Ferrer pending deliberation of the case, his eventual perennial dismissal, and disqualification from public office, and other judicial reliefs. They also asked that a Congressional inquiry be conducted on the administrative and fiscal operations of the PHIC in aid of legislation that may lead to improved management of the health insurance agency, The Manila Bulletin tried but failed to reach Dr. Ferrer for his reaction as of press time.