CSC hit for alleged gag order on PhilHealth cases
Officials and employees of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) were reportedly advised to withhold information on cases involving personnel of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) allegedly by CSC Chairperson Alicia de la Rosa-Bala, successor of Health Secretary Francisco Duque to the top CSC post.
This developed as the House Committees on Public Accounts and on Good Government and Public Accountability took another case of violence linked to massive Philhealth fund scams.
Appearing before the virtual joint committee hearing of the two House panels, National Bureau of Investigation agent Imelda Retinal disclosed that the 2011 murder of a former Metro Bank (Batangas) employee in 2011 was “somehow interrelated” to the disappearance of P14 million PhilHealth contribution of Accenture.
CSC Commissioner Aileen Lisada disclosed on Tuesday that Bala gave them guidance not to reveal information about PhilHealth cases.
Lisada’s revelation prompted panel officials to set a new congressional hearing to dig deeper into Lisada’s revelation.
Before Lisada’s disclosure, lawmakers noted that Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo, head of the CSC legal department and Bala’s representative to the hearing, was not forthcoming in responding to questions raised by House members.
When asked to give certain details about the administrative cases filed against PhilHealth officials, Ronquillo could not give immediate answers.
However, Lisada was able to respond quickly about the status of the PhilHealth cases. Her information came from Ronquillo’s office.
“Yes, meron pong guidance regarding your concern,” Lisada said when asked by Anakalusugan Rep.Mike Defensor if there was a “move to suppress information” to the House panel.
Lisada disclosed that Bala gave the “guidance” to all officials present during the meeting she presided over, adding that there is an audio recording of what transpired.
The CSC commissioner said she did not support the approval of the minutes of the meeting referred to because Bala’s instruction was not included.
“That is the truth that was disclosed and the meeting was recorded. The declaration was not reflected in the minutes but the audit says otherwise,” she said.
Defensor, chairman of the public accounts panel, said Lisada’s revelation gave rise to the apprehension over Duque’s involvement in the CSC management’s decision to clamp up.
“Ito ba ay may koneksyon sa pagiging boss niya dati sa CSC? (Is this linked to his being the former CSC boss?)” the lawmaker asked.
Ronquillo denied Lisada’s claim, saying that he “did not hear guidance given” by Bala during the meeting.
Lawmakers also grilled PhilHealth Senior Vice President Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. who had been appointed to various key posts in the state insurance firm notwithstanding his alleged lack of managerial experience as provided under civil service rules.
Del Rosario became a lawyer in 2016 and took the post of SVP for legal at PhilHealth in just four years.
Questioned about his qualifications, Del Rosario said the requirement of five years of managerial training had already been modified by the CSC.
“I don’t think it is fair to malign my person because of your opinion that I am not qualified,” said Del Rosario , apparently irked by the line of questioning of solons led by Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
Marcoleta said Del Rosario’s responses had opened “ a can of worms” that he will pursue in the next hearings.