President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered an investigation into the travel expenses and allowances of officer-in-charge president of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna which have reportedly amounted to more than P900 million, according to a Palace official.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Dela Serna spent P627,293.04 in just one year despite the agency’s massive net income loss amounting to P8.92 billion based on its 2017 unaudited financial statement posted online.
“The President ordered the investigation because the President’s priority is to provide universal health care. And if he is unable to clean the ranks of PhilHealth, he would not be able to grant universal health care,” Roque said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
The Palace official said that it was the President’s promise to give importance to cleaning the ranks of PhilHealth.
The Commission on Audit report dated April 18, said Dela Serna spent at least P627,293.064 for her airplane fares from Tagbilaran to Manila and vice versa, terminal fees, and hotel accommodations since she assumed the post as PhilHealth OIC president on April 10, 2017.
“If PhilHealth will not clean their ranks, the universal healthcare will not be realized,” Roque said.
However, Roque assured that all sides will be heard by the President since Dela Serna appealed to the President to hear her side on the issue.
“Well, the matter will be, I think like all controversies, investigated, and everyone will be heard,” he said.
“If somebody from Malacañang is watching, I am waiting for the President to call me. Or if I can set an appointment with him, at least hear my side,” Dela Serna said over a radio interview.
Earlier, Roque urged the Office of the Ombudsman to act on the COA reports so cases can be filed against erring officials. He said that it should not be just President Duterte who will act on these reports and said that the Ombudsman should also look into them as it is part of their function.
The Palace official said all complaints should not only fall into the lap of the President.
“If there really is a violation of the anti-graft law, the Constitutional body that should investigate, even motu proprio, should be the Ombudsman,” he added.