Gordon: Barbers' 'blackmail' remark on Red Cross-PhilHealth debt issue very harsh

Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday said Surigao Del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers' warning to the Philippine Red Cross to stop "blackmailing" the government over the P1.1 billion debt of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was inappropriate.

"He used a very harsh word — 'blackmail'. That's associated with criminals. We're not criminals, we are humanitarians," Gordon, also PRC chairman and CEO, said in an online interview.

The senator stressed that the PRC is even building a molecular laboratory in Barbers' home province.

"Tell him thank you for allowing the Red Cross to service his constituency. We're putting up right now, almost finishing the molecular laboratory in his home province of Surigao," Gordon said.

In a separate interview on CNN Philippines, the senator said Barbers used the wrong word when he reacted to the issue of PRC demanding payment from the state health insurer for the unpaid COVID-19 tests.

"I don't think he understands the meaning of 'blackmail'. Sino ba ang nakabitin sa utang? Hindi naman kami ang may utang. Sila eh. Ibig sabihin kapag may utang [sa 'yo], siningil mo. Nagba-blackmail ka na?" Gordon said.

"Hindi naman ganoon kahina ang ulo ni Ace Barbers. Kilala ko 'yan. Medyo nakakaintindi nang kaunti 'yan pero siguro malapit na eleksiyon gustong pumapel. Ayoko nang pag-usapan 'yan," he added.

On Monday, Barbers warned the PRC to stop blackmailing the government.

“I seriously counsel the management of the Philippine National Red Cross to stop blackmailing the government. Please remember that every centavo in the coffers of the government comes from every Filipino taxpayer," Barbers said in a statement.

"It is very lamentable that due to the government’s alleged failure to pay its obligation on time, it has been accused of a lot of things," he added.

The congressman also claimed that the contract between the PRC and the state health insurer is "illegal" because PhilHealth is not allowed to make advance payments, only reimbursements.

Gordon, on the other hand, said that PhilHealth's initial payment of P100 million to the PRC was above board and was used as a "rolling account."

For its part, PhilHealth also said it will settle its obligations to PRC after the Department of Justice sent its legal opinion saying the PhilHealth-PRC MOA is not subject to Procurement Law. —KG, GMA News