Nagsampa ng patong-patong na kaso ang grupo ng mga doktor, health advocates, at abogado sa pangunguna ni Atty. Rodel Taton sa Office of the Ombudsman laban kina Executive Secretary Ralph Recto at dating Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr.
Ayon ito sa naging pagpunta nina Taton sa tanggapan ng Ombudsman nitong Huwebes, Enero 15, kaugnay umano sa paglipat ng ₱60 bilyong halaga ng excess reserve funds ng PhilHealth sa national treasury.
Idiniin ni Taton malinaw raw na lumagbag sina Recto at Ledesma sa mga kasong technical malversation, graft and corruption, plunder, at grave misconduct.
“This one is a criminal case,” pagsisimula niya, “Violation of the Revised Penal Code Article 220 for technical malversation, violation of RA 3019 for graft and corruption. RA 7080 for plunder, and RA 6713 for grave misconduct…”
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Dagdag pa niya, “As I said earlier, this involves public funds and these public funds are reserved for PhilHealth and this reserved funds for PhilHealth were returned by the order of the Secretary of Finance.”
Ani Taton, magagamit raw ang nasabing halaga ng pondo ng PhilHealth sa unprogrammed appropriation ng General Appropriations Act (GAA) kung saan may posibilidad na mapunta sa budget para sa flood control projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways at malinaw daw na paglabag iyon sa batas.
“This will be used for unprogrammed appropriation which we may probably think about flood control and others and we believe that these are violations of our laws,” aniya.
“The acts themselves, of Secretary of Finance and the PhilHealth officers here are considered criminal acts under existing laws. While it may be said that there was no bad faith on the part of Secretary Recto, but there can be cross inexcusable negligence ,” diin pa niya.
Pagpapatuloy pa niya, tila mali raw na gagamitin sa iba ang pondo ng PhilHealth na para sana sa taumbayan at universal health sa bansa.
“Kasi tayo, as taumbayan, pinapaubaya natin dito sa mga opisyales natin. At kung gagamitin lang ang pera ng taumbayan na para sa PhilHealth at universal health care para sa mga Pilipino at sa mga miyembro ng PhilHealth ay gagamitin sa iba, may mali na doon,” saad niya.
“One of the reasons why we are pushing this is accountability. Kasi kung walang kikilos, sino pa?” pagtatapos pa niya.
Mc Vincent Mirabuna/Balita
