PhilHealth employees affected by corruption allegations, want internal issues investigated — union leader

The rank-and-file employees of PhilHealth have "suffered so much" from the allegations hounding the corporation that's why they welcome the executive and legislative investigations on the issues, PhilHealth Workers for Hope, Integrity, Transparency, and Empowerment (PhilHealth-WHITE) Vice President Bryan Jabay said on Monday.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Jabay said the PhilHealth employees want to know the truth too so that allegations could be addressed once and for all, that those involved in irregularities would be put to justice, and that the innocent ones can finally "move on."

"'Yun ang masakit sa aming mga rank-and-file, we suffered so much already. All year round eto 'yung mga akusasyon. Ang amin lang naman, we are not after personalities here but gusto namin tapusin ito, tapusin ang imbestigasyon," he said.

"We're not pinning down personalities here, we were saving the corporation at naapektuhan na ho ang taumbayan, 'yung korporasyon, ang maliliit na empleyado, lalo na ang pamilya namin... Malaki na ho ang naging epekto ng mga issue na ito sa mga rank-and-file," he added.

Jabay shared that previous issues, such as requiring OFWs to pay premiums, also had an impact on employees.

"Sa kamakailang issue lang ho about the OFW, actually we were required not to use the PhilHealth shirt eh, kasi kakanain kami sa labas eh," he said.

'Corruption within'

Jabay said he agrees with PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales when the latter said that an improved IT system would stem fraudulent claims.

However, he underscored that the alleged corruption within PhilHealth is the more pressing issue.

"Totoo din ang sinasabi niya na kailangan natin ng IT to prevent fraud, fraud against our stakeholders—the member and the hospitals or even the doctors. Pero ang issue ngayon ay hindi 'yun eh, ang issue is 'yung corruption within PhilHealth, 'yun ang gusto naming i-address," Jabay said.

"Baka naman ang korapsyon na tinitingnan ni General Morales ay masyadong doon sa stakeholders, hindi niya masyadong naifo-focus sa loob," he added.

"I don't know kung mayroon siyang mechanism pero the point is medyo natatagalan ho kami kasi matagal na ho ang issue na ito, kailangan ho pagpasok pa lang niya ay inaddress na ho niya ito."

Morales, for his part, said during the Senate hearing that he is not done with his job yet.

He admitted that P10.2 billion of PhilHealth funds could have been lost to fraud in 2019 but denied that he is coddling corrupt officials.

Caretaker

On Sunday, PhilHealth-WHITE called on President rodrigo Duterte to appoint a PhilHealth "caretaker" amid the ongoing investigations on the state insurer.

During the Senate hearing last Tuesday, a whistleblower claimed that P15 billion had been pocketed by a mafia inside PhilHealth.

It was also revealed that the state insurer's actuarial life is down to only one year due to the pandemic.

Morales announced on Monday that he is seeking a medical leave, following the recommendation of his oncologist. — RSJ, GMA News