PINATAWAN ng anim na buwang suspensyon ng Office of the Ombudsman ang labing-tatlong dati at kasalukuyang opisyal ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Dalawang kautusan na preventive suspension na walang sweldo ang nilagdaan ni Ombudsman Samuel Martires sa gitna ng kaliwa’t-kanang mga pagsisiyasat sa nabunyag na mga korupsyon sa ahensya.
Ang unang suspension order na nilagdaan ni Ombudsman Samuel Martires nuong Agosto 18, ipinasasailalim sa anim na buwang preventive suspension na walang sweldo ang ilang opisyal ng Philhealth alinsunod sa Section 9 ng Administrative Order No. 17, amending Rule III of Administrative Order No. 07 (Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman) at Section 24 ng R.A. 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989).
Kabilang sa kanila sina dating acting President Roy B. Ferrer, na ngayo’y Assistant Secretary ng Department of Health (DOH); dating interim president Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna; Chief Operating Officer Ruben John Basa; Management Services Sector Senior Vice President (SVP) Dennis Mas; Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group Shirley Domingo; Office of the Senior Vice President, Legal Sector SVP Rodolfo Del Rosario Jr.; Chief of Staff Raul Dominic Badilla; Health Finance Policy Sector SVP Israel Pargas; Angelito Grande; Lawrence Mijares; at Acting Senior Manager of the Operations Audit Department Leila Tuazon.
Sa ikalawang suspension order naman ay kabilang sina Ferrer, Basa, Quality Assurance Group Vice President Clementine Bautista, Grande, at Field Operations Division Chief Engr. Eugenio Donatos II.
Isinasaad sa kautusan na may matibay na ebidensya sa mga reklamong inihain sa kanila.
“The evidence on record shows that the guilt of respondents is strong and the charges against them involve Grave Misconduct, Oppression, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service which may warrant removal from the service,” saad ng ikalawang suspension order.
Inaatasan ng Ombudsman sina Philhealth President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales at Health Secretary Francisco Duque III bilang Philhealth Board ex-officio Chairman na ipatupad ang direktiba.