Threatened with contempt, 2 PhilHealth execs admit ‘not telling whole truth’

Two PhilHealth officials on Tuesday admitted that they did not tell the whole truth after Senator Panfilo Lacson threatened to cite them in contempt.

At the resumption of the Senate hearing, Lacson said he wants senior vice president Jovita Aragona and acting senior manager for IT department Calixto Gabuya Jr. to specify the model of network switches indicated in an allegedly overpriced awarded contract in 2019.

"Will you still insist? Last hearing you were insisting ang ipo-procure ninyo 15 units, 2960-XR244. I want to give you a chance to redeem yourselves, you lied under oath," Lacson said.

But the resource persons insisted that what was indicated in the document was "generic" and was "not specific."

However, a document provided by PhilHealth corporate legal counsel Roberto Labe Jr. showed that what was being procured was 9200 24-port.

These network switches were part of the previous discussion on an alleged overpriced contract awarded by PhilHealth last year. Resigned PhilHealth head executive assistant Etrobal Laborte previously said those network switches were grossly overpriced.

"Mr. President, I move to cite in contempt of this committee Ms. Aragona and Mr. Gabuya for continuously evading and lying before this committee

"Why do you continue to beat around the bush?" Lacson said.

"I gave you a chance to redeem yourselves. Kung sinabi nyo nagkamali kayo last hearing I’l accept that. But you still insist until confronted by the document of Labe saka kayo nag-make ng amend. I’m willing to withdraw my motion but admit," Lacson said.

Aragona and Gabuya attempted to justify their previous responses but later on admitted that they "did not tell the whole truth."

In the end, Lacson withdrew his motion to cite them in contempt "in the spirit of COVID-19 [situation]." — RSJ, GMA News