Another PhilHealth exec tenders courtesy resignation

Another official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has tendered a courtesy resignation following the allegations of irregularities that the state health insurer has been embroiled in.

The development was confirmed by PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Baleña in a Dobol B sa News TV interview on Sunday.

"As of late, ang una nating naipahayag ay 43 na.... Nadagdagan 'yan ng isa pa na nag-file ng courtesy resignation. Lahat-lahat 'yan ay 44 na," Baleña said.

He, however, did not provide further details about the newest courtesy resignation.

PhilHealth earlier said that as of October 8, a total of 43 senior officers had already responded to the health insurer’s chief executive officer Atty. Dante A. Gierran’s September 30 memo implementing a 2019 Board Resolution directing all senior officers from Salary Grade 26 and above to tender their courtesy resignation.

Of the 43 officers, 27 tendered their courtesy resignation, of which 21 are from the central office and six from regional offices.

Meanwhile, 16 officers are retiring, 10 of them are from the central office and six from regional offices.

Baleña, however, said that the courtesy resignations will only take effect once Gierran accepts them.

"May isang buwan si Atty. Gierran para aksiyonan ang nasabing mga courtesy resignation," he added.

Baleña said that Gierran's appointment as new PhilHealth chief is a "morale booster" to the employees at the state health insurer.

"'Yung mga aksiyon nitong nakaraan ni Atty. Gierran ay dagdag na morale booster sa hanay ng mga empleyado," he said.

"Kamakailan nga, nagpatupad na siya ng rotation ng mga regional vice presidents, bahagi na 'yan. Kamakailan ay in-order na rin niya ang mga regional vice presidents na i-profile ang lahat ng mga ospital, pasilidad, at mga healthcare professionals. Bahagi na ito, nagsisimula na itong mga anti-fraud measures na bahagi ng kaniyang programa," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the filing of charges against former PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales and other officials linked by an inter-agency task force to irregularities in the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), procurement of ICT equipment, and policy for accountability.

Resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud officer Thorsson Montes Keith has claimed that the PhilHealth "mafia," composed of the executive committee, stole some P15 billion through fraudulent schemes, including those involving the IRM.

PhilHealth, in a statement, has since denied such claims. —KG, GMA News