DOH vouches for execs suspended over frontliners' benefits mess

The Department of Health has attested to the integrity of its five officials who were meted with six-month preventive suspension without pay over alleged negligence in releasing benefits of health care workers amid COVID-19 pandemic, but vowed to cooperate with the probe.

“We are supportive of our officials. These five officials have been with us for decades, nagbigay ng sakripisyo, commitment. Integrity wise, mapagkakatiwalaan, kaya sana magkaroon na ng resolusyon ang kaso para makabalik na sila sa kanilang trabaho,” DOH Usec. Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in an online forum.

“In this time of a pandemic, these five people are playing critical roles in our pandemic response kaya, we hope na matapos na ito,” Vergeire added.

The five officials who were ordered suspended by Ombudsman Samuel Martires include: 

• Director Kenneth Ronquillo of the DOH Health Human Resource Development Bureau
• DOH Assistant Secretary Maylene Beltran

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• Dr. Roger Tong-an of DOH Administration and Financing Team
• Dr. Laureano Cruz of DOH Administration and Financing Team and
• Administrative Officer Esperanza Carating.

Vergeire, however, noted that the DOH will not in any way intervene in the investigation being conducted by the Ombudsman.

“Lungkot na lungkot po kami na ganito ang sitwayson amid the pandemic, pero bukas naman po ang ating kagawaran sa anumang imbestigasyon at kung ano man ang kailangan ay kami ay mag-a-abide,” Vergeire pointed out.

“Ito pong preventive suspension ay hindi po ibig sabihin ay pinapatawan na sila ng penalty. Parte po ito ng legal process para hindi magkaroon ng implewensiya ang nasasakadal,” Vergeire added.

Martires has earlier claimed that DOH officials have been stalling Ombudsman probers on their investigation of DOH's handling of the country's COVID-19 response. —LBG, GMA News