HEREUNDER, THEIR RESPONSE... Joint Statement of Philhealth Regional Vice Presidents Interim/OIC President and CEO Dr. Celestina Ma. Jude P. Dela Serna uttered vicious insinuations against PhilHealth officers, particularly Regional Vice Presidents, implying corruption, collusion, and connivance with hospitals for unlawful financial gain, as well as extortion of "some officers". She made these blanket accusations during her press conference last May 8, 2018, conveniently citing this as one of the reasons for her decision to rotate senior officers of the Corporation. These are baseless insinuations, slander even, leveled against hardworking career officers who have long committed to safeguarding the integrity of the National Health Insurance Funds. These are also serious accusations. If Dr. dela Serna really believes in its merits, then she should put her money where her mouth is and immediately file the corresponding administrative, civil, or even criminal charges against the “culprits”. It is revealing that she resorted instead to trial by publicity by making sweeping generalizations against career officers. Such rash and irresponsible actions betray Dr. dela Serna’s penchant for grandstanding and bully tactics that only foster division and demoralization among the ranks. For the record, we are not against rotation or reassignment per se, provided this is done properly, and in accordance with pertinent Civil Service rules governing such actions. However, we have to put our foot down on uneven, haphazard, and arbitrary reassignments, under the guise of being done "in the exigency of service". More importantly, we would rather that the Interim/OIC President and CEO not muddle the issue and answer the charges leveled against her. Foremost amongst these is the reported P8.9 Billion loss for 2017, which is more than 3,400% increase from the 2016 operating deficit. As custodian of public funds, this is an embarrassing failure of the highest degree. But we only scratch the tip of the iceberg. She is to be charged with malversation and falsification of public documents in claiming reimbursements for her hotel and travel expenses. She has scandalously displayed an extravagant lifestyle with year-long hotel accommodations in Manila and weekly travel to Bohol, using PhilHealth funds. She has usurped the PhilHealth Presidency despite an executive memorandum providing that only the next-in-rank shall assume as OIC. She collected unreasonable and unconscionable agency fees. She arbitrarily suspended senior officers without legal basis, using thinly disguised trumped-up charges. She harassed and intimidated employees, causing resignations of highly trained/technical employees. The list goes on. We vigorously support President Duterte's call to eliminate corruption in public service, and achieve genuine universal health care. In all modesty, we have upheld PhilHealth’s fiduciary role as custodian of the National Health Insurance Funds. PhilHealth is now one of the most beloved and trusted government brands, a fitting testament to 23 years of dedication and hard work by the men and women in the PhilHealth uniform. But achieving PhilHealth’s goal of providing financial risk protection is a work in progress. The times demand unity and synergy among the PhilHealth family, a renewed commitment to universal coverage, and a permanent, competent, and visionary leadership to steer PhilHealth to world-class levels. Philhealth is spiraling out of control under the dela Serna regime that does not have the chops to run a social health insurance program. Dr. dela Serna only knows how to rule, not to govern. She is a time bomb waiting to explode, inviting irreversible and irreparable damage to the National Health Insurance Program. As one of the pillars of the President’s Health Agenda tasked to provide health financing, PhilHealth deserves a permanent President with the financial acumen, managerial competence, and personal integrity to lead it. Dr. dela Serna, unfortunately, miserably fails on all three counts. PhilHealth para sa bayan, PhilHealth para sa lahat!