House released PhilHealth exec detained for contempt –Defensor

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) official who was detained at the House of Representatives after he was cited for contempt had been released on Monday morning, according to House Committee on Public Accounts chair Mike Defensor.

In a message to reporters, Defensor said PhilHealth Internal Legal Department Senior Manager Atty. Rogelio Pocallan Jr. left the House premises at 8:06 a.m.

Pocallan was detained at the House on Thursday after Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. moved that he be cited for contempt for supposedly "misleading" lawyers as well as the public that a decision rendered by a court as final and executory could be overturned.

In that hearing, Pocallan admitted that the PhilHealth board used a legal opinion he gave in reversing the Court of Appeals decision on the case of Cebu-based Perpetual Succor Hospital.

Although lawmakers pointed out to him that the CA decision was final and executory, Pocallan stood by his opinion, saying it was affirmed by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

"The committee found his reply that Philhealth may reverse an order of the Court of Appeals given its quasi-judicial function deceitful and dishonest," Defensor said.

"We hope that in the coming hearing and the future investigations that will be conducted, our resource persons will be truthful and forthright with their replies so as not to diminish the hard work of the individual members and the collective effort of the committees involved," he added.

The joint House panel has yet to announce its next hearing on the PhilHealth investigation. — DVM, GMA News