PhilHealth VP Macabato denies being 'untouchable', 'inordinate influence'

Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) regional vice president Khaliquzzaman Macabato on Tuesday denied any role in the alleged mafia of the state insurer involved in corruption.

In a Senate hearing, Macabato clarified claims of president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales that he had inordinate influence in the agency.

"I would just like to clear this name because the last time that we have this Senate hearing, my name was mentioned as one of the mafia," Macabato said.

Morales last week said Macabato and vice president for Mindanao Datu Masiding Alonto Jr., had inordinate influence in the agency as they could not be moved to other offices.

According to Macabato, there were two instances when he was attempted to be reassigned, but he countered these due to the circumstances.

"The first one was in 2010 when the order was issued during the onset of the election ban, so I was afraid that I might be accused or I might be impleaded with possible election cases in the region where I was supposed to be transferred to," he told Senators.

"I went to court, asked the court to stop my reassignment and accordingly, an order or permanent injunction was issued by the Regional Trial Court of Marawi," he added.

Macabato said the second instance was in 2010, when he was threatened to be reassigned should he disagree with proposed policies.

"Before we were transferred, there was a threat that was coursed through RVP Adre that if we will not agree with the implementation of the policy, they are going to transfer us," Macabato said.

"In the hearing last year, I stated that I am a cancer patient and had they consulted me, then my reassignment would not be pursued because I am a cancer patient and a victim of the Marawi siege," he added.

Under its mandate, PhilHealth is tasked to administer the National Health Insurance Program which aims to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health care services for all citizens of the Philippines.

PhilHealth and its officials are under investigation over the agency's alleged overpriced purchase of an information technology system worth over P2 billion.

In the previous Senate hearing, resigned anti-fraud officer Thorsson Montes Keith claimed that the PhilHealth "mafia," composed of the executive committee, stole some P15 billion through fraudulent schemes.

PhilHealth, in a statement, has since denied such claims. -NB, GMA News