PhilHealth whistle-blower asks Senate for legislative immunity

PhilHealth Board member Alejandro Cabading on Tuesday requested to be covered by legislative immunity after he revealed the names of the alleged members of "mafia" within the state health insurer.

"I would like to request, for the record, Mr. Chair, if you don't mind, for a legislative immunity in this continuous Senate hearing on PhilHealth issue," Cabading asked Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

"We will take that request up in the Committee," Sotto replied.

The request came after PhilHealth Senior Vice President Rodolfo Del Rosario threatened to take legal action against Cabading after the board member claimed that the executive was a member of the group involved in corruption in the agency.

"I have nothing to do with any fraud or any corrupt activity in this corporation and if Mr. Cabading is not able to substantiate his allegations, we will take the necessary legal action. He should not just take for granted 'yung mga buhay ng mga tao at ia-announce na miyembro po kami ng sindikato, kami nga po ang lumalaban sa sindikato dito," Del Rosario said.

"Siya nga ang may ginagawang kalokohan eh. Sasabihin namin during the executive session," he added.

Senior Vice Presidents Renato Limsiaco Jr. and Dennis Mas, and Corporate Secretary Jonathan Mangaoang were also tagged as mafia members but they all denied the allegation.

PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales likewise said Cabading had an "axe to grind" against the state insurer.

"I don't believe ho the statement of Mr. Cabading because meron din ho siyang motive. He wants us to buy this property in Zamboanga and he's been brokering for several months for that, so he has an axe to grind against management," Morales said.

Cabading, on the other hand, denied that he has ulterior motives in urging PhilHealth to buy a property in Zamboanga.

"When I became Board member, bumisita ako sa regional office ng Zamboanga. When I was there, inabutan ako ng earthquake sometime in October. Masyadong dangerous ang building nila roon," he said.

"Nag-petition ang mga empleyado doon na they really like to have a new building and a lot," he added. "Wala tayong interest diyan except to help. Magkaroon sana ng sariling building 'yung opisina doon." -NB, GMA News