Mismanagement may be at the root of Philhealth's losses — JV Ejercito

Senator JV Ejercito on Tuesday said he is hoping that there is no mafia within the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) which may have caused its supposed multi-billion income loss.

In his opening statement during the Senate hearing on PhilHealth's performance, Ejercito said he found similarities between the losses of Philhealth and a certain housing agency.

"Kahapon po sa Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement na akin ding pinamumunuan, nagkaroon po ako ng konklusyon na may mafia sa housing sector kung kaya ganun na lamang ang lugi ng gobyerno dahil sa mga hindi mapakinabangan na mga pabahay na nagkakahalaga ng bilyong piso," Ejercito recalled.

"The situation in Philhealth is akin to the housing sector fiasco. Was there a mafia in Philhealth? I hope not but the multi-billion loss is more than a mismanagement issue and lack of leadership," he added.

During the hearing, PhilHealth clarified that the loss was P4.75 billion, contrary to earlier reports that it was P8.9 billion. The agency admitted that they had committed some errors in their records.

"Number one is the benefit payment for senior citizens wherein we recorded an expense of P21.32 billion and we only provided a subsidy of P13.045 billion," said Gregorio Rulloda, acting chief finance executive of PhilHealth, in a 24 Oras report by Jam Sisante.

Ejercito, in an ambush interview, said the income loss of PhilHealth may be due to "financial mismanagement."

"Mukhang financial mismanagement sa tingin ko and then siyempre nag-aalala ako diyan kasi kung saka-sakali wag naman sana... kung magtuloy-tuloy na ganito, pag nagtuloy-tuloy ang financial mismanagement mag-end ito to the collapse of the whole organization," Ejercito said.

"It will also mean the collapse of the PhilHealth system kasi napakadependent natin, nagiisa lang ang ating source unlike other countries tulad ng Thailand tatlo ang kanilang health insurance pero dito sa ating bansa iisa lang ang ating health insurance so we have to make sure kailangan maayos ang ating finances," he added.

The agency's interim president, Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna, ensured that she was not misusing the funds of PhilHealth.

"A lot has been said about my leadership. Let me assure you that I am here in PhilHealth to protect people’s money...  I did not violate any law. This is my commitment to the President and the Filipino people," Dela Serna said.

The Commission on Audit has found out that Dela Serna spent P627,293.04 to cover her travel expenses to and from her home province of Bohol to Manila.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a probe on the travels of Dela Serna. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News