Gordon wants removal of all PhilHealth regional VPs, believes they are the 'mafia'

All regional vice presidents of the PhilHealth must be removed from their posts for allegedly benefiting from fraudulent claims in previous years, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Richard Gordon said Tuesday.

In a virtual interview with reporters, Gordon said these influential regional vice presidents have their "own kingdoms" but he maintained that there is only one mafia.

"The records speak for itself that the mafia is the regional directors. They've been there for 20 years. Nakikita niyo, ang laki ng amounts na naka-collect, maraming nagko-complain," he said.

"Konektado 'yan, there is really just one mafia. Connected 'yan doon sa taas," he added.

Gordon said increasing pneumonia, cataract, caesarean section, and diabetes ketoacidosis claims have been flagged in previous years.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's report regarding the hearings conducted in August 2019, proposed "the immediate removal" of all PhilHealth regional directors.

"All these overcharges, overpayments, upscaling, and other nefarious schemes could not have been perpetrated without their cooperation, or, maybe even, principal leadership," it read.

"There existed sufficient safeguards in the system that could have caught these criminal schemes had they performed their jobs faithfully and honestly," it added.

The following are among those who had been recommended by the committee to be investigated by the Ombudsman for possible corrupt practices of public officers and administrative offenses:

• Paolo Johann C. Perez
• Dennis Adre
• Atty. Valerie Hollero
• William Chavez

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• Atty. Jelbert Galicto
• Khaliquzzman Macabato
• Dr. Miriam Grace Pamonag
• Masiding Alonto

Six of them have already gone on voluntary leave earlier this month, following the advice of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra amid ongoing investigations into  PhilHealth.

"I'm very confident as a lawyer that we can prosecute these people. Pag nakalusot 'yan talagang bulok na talaga ang sistema natin," Gordon said.

Meanwhile, during the recently concluded Senate hearing on PhilHealth, the witnesses said these regional executives who were tagged as "mafia" last year were actually the "good mafia."

Adre, one of those labeled among the "Mindanao group," said the incumbent executive committee of PhilHealth is the "real and bad" mafia.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee also recommended the creation of an online mortality verification system in the Philippine Statistics Authority; and establishment of a monitoring group in the central office on the payments and transactions being made in the regions.

It also moved for the creation of the Insurance Fraud Detection Bureau within the National Bureau of Investigation and the regular reshuffling of PhilHealth regional executives to avoid familiarity with owners and management of hospitals in their jurisdictions. — BM, GMA News