Is the culture at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) of "no squealing" against an upperclassman at play in yesterday’s Senate hearing on the widespread corruption at the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)?
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, a 1971 PMA graduate, recalled this PMA culture when Etrotal Laborte, 2001 PMA graduate, backed out of his scheduled appearance before a public hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole on the PhilHealth mess.
Retired Brigadier General Ricardo Morales, a 1977 PMA graduate and PhilHealth president and chief executive officer (CEO), is being asked by the senators to explain the details of alleged widespread corruption at the health agency.
Morales is stepping on a bed of hot coals over alleged unconscionable overpricing of information technology (IT) equipment and parts, favoring unaccredited hospitals in the reimbursement of expenses for the treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ‘’doctoring’’ financial records and alleged coddling suspected grafters.
Projections are that PhilHealth would be oh a precarious financial situation next year because of mismanagement and dissipation of funds.
Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense committee, said there is a strong case against PhilHealth officials based on documents submitted to the Senate.
Asked by Senate reporters during a Zoom interview today whether money and power are present in this situation, Lacson replied: ‘’You couldn’t have said it more correctly. Pag position may power ka at may opportunity para sa money. Doon mo makita. Yan lang masasabi ko.’’ (When you are in a position of influence or power and you have the opportunity over money…You will see the result, That is all I can say.)
‘’Meron kaming kultura sa PMA, ang squealing and kailan ano ang dividing line ng squealer at pagtulong sa investigation. Sa kanya parang nananaig, nabanggit niya sa akin ayaw kong sabihin ng upperclassmen ko na ako nag-squeal,’’ he said. (We have a culture at the PMA on squealing and what is the dividing line of a squealer and the one who helps in investigations.)
‘’Sabi ko sa kanya kung tama ang pinaglalaban mo di squealer ang tawag diyan, advocacy yan. Gusto mo itama ang mali, tumutulong ka. Kanya-kanyang pananaw. So I leave it up to him magdecide kung attend siya next hearing,’’ he added. (I told him that if you fight for the things that are right, you are an ‘advocate,’ not a squealer. If you want to make things right, you help. Everyone has his own view of things.)
He was referring to Laborte, head executive assistant of Morales at PhilHealth, who earlier signified his intention to appear before the Senate Committee of the Whole after submitting to Lacson on the sly pieces of evidence that point to corrupt practices at PhilHeath.
‘’So I leave it up to him (Laborte) magdecide kung aattend siya next hearing,’’ Lacson said.
Laborte, who earlier resigned at PhilHealth, reportedly decided at the last minute not to attend the hearing because he feared for his life as there were persons tailing him.
When Morales was named PhilHealth chief in mid-2019, Lacson said he lauded his appointment because of his integrity in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, 1986 PMA graduate and current chairman of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs, told Morales in yesterday’s public hearing that he and other young PMA graduates, look up to him because he was seen as straight as an arrow and who had denounced corruption at the military establishment.
Do not disappoint us, dela Rosa pleaded with Morales. Both Lacson and dela Rosa are former Philippine National Police chiefs and graduates of the PMA.