'Si Calida, kailan?' Trillanes asks after Duterte axes PhilHealth chief

"Si (Solicitor General Jose) Calida kailan?"

This was the question raised by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV when sought for comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to replace Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna as interim chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The senator said the President was quick to remove officials not close to him.

"Kapag hindi dikit sa kanya, tanggal agad. Si Calida na mas malaki ang halaga ng corruption, ayaw niya tanggalin kasi maraming alam na sikreto,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Senator Francis Pangilinan earlier called for the resignation of the Solicitor General insisting that there is conflict of interest when Calida-family owned Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency Inc. (VISAI) secured contracts worth over P150 million with the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) between 2015 and 2018.

Senator Risa Hontiveros has also challenged the President to fire the government's top lawyer and file appropriate cases against him.

Calida said he would not quit his post as he can handle the accusations thrown at him.

President Duterte has repeatedly defended Calida.

"'Yung kay Calida naman bakit ko siya i-fire, out na long before he became a SolGen, 'yun ang negosyo niya, 'yun ang negosyo ng tatay niya. Actually inherited ni Calida ‘yan," he said in his speech before the Filipino community in South Korea.

"Basta may bidding lahat, anything in government basta may bidding ka, walang problema, okay 'yan. Kung siya ang nanalo, eh di siya... sabihin, putulin mo hanapbuhay ng tao, why? Are you sure you will be there for all times?" Duterte added.

Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said he has been requesting that the President appoint a financial expert with actuarial knowledge to the PhilHealth post.

“PhilHealth means management of funds. With PhilHealth's current situation, and not to undermine capabilities of doctors, we really need a financial wiz to fix all its troubles,” he said in a message to reporters.

“I am very much concerned with PhilHealth's financial standing at the moment. Really disturbing,” he added.

Ejercito expressed hope that the Office of the President and Office of Executive Secretary would continue search for a permanent PhilHealth President and CEO with financial and actuarial expertise.

He added charges should be filed not only against Dela Serna, but against past officials like former Health Secretary Janet Garin and former PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla who were allegedly responsible for mismanaging the funds resulting in its current financial state.

Duterte removed Dela Serna amid a Palace investigation into her alleged excessive travels. Earlier, the Commission on Audit released its report finding that Dela Serna spent P627,293.04 to cover her travel expenses to and from her home province of Bohol to Manila.

Appointed to replace her is Dr. Roy Ferrer, who has served as PhilHealth board member. —JST, GMA News