Dela Serna removed, stays

Ian Alfredo Magno .

SINCE the onset, “change” has always been President Digong’s proven effective sales pitch, then as a crowd-favorite presidential contender, and even up to now that he occupies the highest seat in government.  Change is the fuel, as you might say, that runs Digong’s machinery.

Certainly, Digong was correct when he recognized that “change” is what the country needed – and still needs – tons of it, in fact.

Philhealth, as a corporation besieged with crisis (despite the recent removal of its ineffective IPCEO) stands no different from the country’s fundamental plight. Then led by an interim/temporary president who practically made a mess out of her stint, Philhealth sustained an unprecedented P8.9-billion loss in year 2017 per official COA audit reports.

Apparently, dela Serna was unqualified.

Rep. Arnulfo Teves of Negros Oriental, with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, had occasion to discuss with dela Serna. Teves was aghast after dela Serna candidly admitted – like it was commonplace as buying raisins from a drugstore – that she spent Philhealth’s funds for a year in a hotel where the cheapest room costs 3,800 per night.  “More or less one year sa hotel siya nakatira charged to Philhealth and she said she thought it was okay, that’s why she did it.  Imagine you have a Philhealth president na ganoon?” Teves said.

Dela Serna’s lack of aptitude – and propriety too – was made manifest by how she mishandled Philhealth’s operations, and how she threw her weight around, misused her powers by oppressing officers and staff that did not earn her liking, and summarily suspended officers despite lack of probable cause/due process, accordingly just because “she can.”

Rep. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Norte’s 2nd District and chairperson of the House Committee on Good Governance and Accountability, quipped, “Noon pa marami nang nagsasabi sa akin, bago pa yan lumabas, na wala siyang alam, na grabe ang gastos nya, charged lahat sa Philhealth. I want her out of there.”

Ultimately, days ago, Digong removed dela Serna from her post as Philhealth’s interim PCEO.

However, many expressed concern why dela Serna is still allowed to remain as member of the Philhealth Board.  Very recently, three separate charges of graft were filed versus the sacked IPCEO, allegedly involving anomalous disbursement vouchers signed by her.  Those suits were in addition to previous cases filed against her before the Honorable Office of the Ombusdman.  Hence, the question lingers – Why is sacked Philhealth IPCEO dela Serna allowed to stay in the Philhealth Board?

The Philheath Board is supposedly a policy-determining body, which should be manned by officials of known integrity, vision and good faith.  With dela Serna’s retention in the Board despite charges of graft and blatant incompetence, the public could not help but speculate and ask yet again thus, “Is dela Serna a ‘sacred cow’ of Digong’s administration?”

On a personal note, I don’t think so.

When asked why dela Serna remains a board member despite allegations of graft against her, Roque told reporters to “ask ES (Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea).”

Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, likewise a member of the Philhealth Board, replaced dela Serna as PCEO in an acting capacity.

For his part, Sen. JV Ejercito has reiterated his earlier suggestion for President Digong to appoint a financial expert who can manage Philhealth’s funds and investment portfolio.  “With Philhealth’s current situation, and not to undermine capabilities of doctors, we really need a financial wiz to fix all its troubles!” he said.

Meanwhile, Philhealth Regional vice president and concurrent area vice president for Mindanao Datu Masiding Alonto Jr., said dela Serna’s removal and Dr. Ferrer’s nomination as Philhealth acting-PCEO is a welcome development.  RVP Alonto, along with all the officers and staff of Philhealth all over the country, is hopeful that Dr. Ferrer would immediately take corrective actions to clean up dela Serna’s mess; and more importantly, RVP Alonto hopes that the new acting PCEO would consider looking into the long-proposed and long-overdue remedial measures to arrest the continued bleeding of Philhealth funds.

These remedial measures were proposed by RVP Alonto way back year 2015, through an officially documented report, wherein he recognized the imminent threat to Philhealth’s funds.  Unfortunately, previous managements at the Central Office turned a blind eye to RVP Alonto’s study/proposal, which in fact proved prophetic given Philhealth’s current state of affairs.

(Lawyer Ian Alfredo T. Magno is a marketing head at Philhealth. E-mail: ianalfredom@gmail.com)