PhilHealth execs could be reappointed—Panelo

June 11, 2019 | 9:19 pm

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte may reappoint the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) board members whom he asked to resign if they will be cleared of any involvement in irregularities in the agency.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said the officials met with the President at the Palace last Monday to discuss the situation.

“They thanked the President for giving them the opportunity to serve and they also appreciate the fact that the resignation is based not on the fact that the President mistrusts them, but because he wants a clean slate, he wants a full investigation,” Mr. Panelo said.

He added, “Parang may binanggit pa nga siya doon, kung okay eh di puwede naman silang ibalik o kaya bigyan sila ng ibang position(It seems that it was mentioned there that if [the investigation] comes out okay, then they can go back or be given another position).”

The President is awaiting the results of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe, he noted.

The spokesman also said the President has tapped a doctor to serve in the agency, but did not give the specific position.

“May nabanggit siya na (He mentioned that) he’s waiting for the response of Dr. Jaime Cruz for an offer I think he made to him,” he said.

In his official statement regarding the President’s meeting with the officials of PhilHealth, Mr. Panelo reassured the public that the services of the agency “will remain unhampered as operations will continue and will be momentarily run by second-level officials pending the subject investigation.”

COMPLAINTS FILED
The NBI yesterday filed complaints before the Department of Justice against WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center Corp. owner and Vice-President Bryan Christopher W. Sy, along with whistleblowers Liezel Aileen Santos and Edwin C. Roberto and other WellMed officials, for estafa and falsification of documents in connection with the “ghost” dialysis treatment funded by PhilHealth.

The criminal complaints for violation of Article 315 (estafa) and Article 172 (falsification of documents) in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code was filed against Mr. Sy and the two whistleblowers, following the complaint filed by PhilHealth Monday.

Other WellMed officers included in the complaint are Medical Director John Ray M. Gonzales, Chairman Claro N. Sy, Purchasing Officer Therese Francesca R. Tan, Administration Officer Dick S. Ong, and physicians Porshia C. Natividad and Joemie D. Soriano.

Mr. Sy and the whistleblowers were also presented for inquest proceedings after they were arrested by the NBI Monday.

Mr. Roberto, a former WellMed assistant manager, said in his sworn statement that Mr. Sy instructed him in March 2016 to charge a dialysis billing of P2,600 as PhilHealth claims of two deceased patients, while Ms. De Leon was ordered to generate the necessary PhilHealth forms.

Mr. Roberto also disclosed that before his resignation in March 2018, a total of P600,600 from 200 dialysis sessions were settled by PhilHealth to WellMed for patients who already died.

A total of 80 dialysis sessions worth P208,000 were unpaid as of March 2018, but have been paid since, Mr. Roberto said in the statement.

A number of claims were also allegedly made by Ms. De Leon following instructions from Mr. Sy.

Harry L. Roque, legal counsel of the whistleblowers, said the complaint against his clients and Mr. Sy has been submitted for resolution.

He added that they wanted to immediately submit the case for resolution because “we have a pending application into the witness protection program and they have to be charged according to the provision of the witness protection.”

In another development, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 denied the petition of Mr. Sy for writ of habeas corpus citing that the NBI had no ground for his warrantless arrest and detention.

“The instant petition is denied. The singular function of a petition for habeas corpus is to inquire into the cause of detention of a person… That there is no probable cause for the warrantless arrest of the subject has been held not a valid ground for the issuance of a Writ of Habeas Corpus,” the court decision states. — Arjay L. Balinbin and Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Salceda says DFA obliged to support climate change talks

June 11, 2019 | 9:18 pm

ALBAY 2^ND DISTRICT Rep. Joey S. Salceda has called out Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. for banning his department’s officials from attending climate change conferences “requiring air travel” and pulling out financial support for other offices.

“Can I remind you that section 9 of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) [Act]… The provisions and functions of the CCC? So you cannot do away with it. You’re violating the law,” Mr. Salceda, chair of the House special committee on climate change, said in a briefing Tuesday at the Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

Section 9 (K) of Republic Act 9729 provides that the CCC shall coordinate with DFA in representing the country in climate change negotiations abroad.

“How do you interpret that provision of the law which should be superior to any of your statements,” said Mr. Salceda.

Mr. Locsin announced the travel ban in a June 10 DFA statement following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s criticism of climate change efforts in the international community.

In the statement, he said other agencies and offices could send their representative provided that the travel budget will come from funding sources other than the DFA.

“This is incompatible with the legal obligations under the Philippine law,” said Mr. Salceda, citing the General Appropriations Act of 2019 mandating DFA to “extend the necessary, technical, legal, and logistical support to the Climate Change Commission on the participation of the Philippine delegation in the climate negotiation processes…”

“Your budget was given to you because you are compelled to support this negotiation. There’s no ifs and buts,” said Mr. Salceda.

In response, Mr. Locsin said in a tweet: “To Joey Salceda, my House mentor: Please. I’m not stopping anybody outside DFA from traveling to TALK rather than ACT on Climate Change. DFA is committed to vote YES to the most radical proposals but not again to keep traveling to talk about it ad nauseam.” — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Forums set in preparation for President’s 4th SONA

June 11, 2019 | 9:12 pm

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte’s Cabinet officials are set to hold a series of forums to discuss the policies, programs, and achievements of his administration in preparation for his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). In a statement on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said Cabinet Secretary Karlo B. Nograles updated the President’s men during the Cabinet meeting last Monday with the pre-SONA activities. “There are three pre-SONA forums to be spearheaded by the Presidential Communications Operations Office. The first forum, entitled Patuloy na Pag-unlad to be led by the Economic Development and Infrastructure Cluster, will be held in Manila on July 1. The second one, Patuloy na Malasakit at Pag-kakaisa, will be led by the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster, alongside with the Participatory Governance Cluster, in Cebu City on July 10. “Lastly, the Patuloy na Katatagan will be held in Davao City on July 17 and shall be presented by the Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction Cluster and the Security, Justice and Peace Cluster,” Mr. Panelo said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Order out soon to formalize Cabinet members’ special regional designations under CORDS

June 11, 2019 | 9:11 pm

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte is set to issue an executive order (EO) formalizing the designation of the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS). In a statement on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. “requested” during the Cabinet meeting last Monday to formalize the CORDS, which is tasked to help counter regional and local communists, through the issuance of an EO. “This initiative spreads Cabinet officials nationwide and are designated per region to help ending regional and local communists. The CORDS will also be able to help in delivering basic services and livelihood to regions,” he said. In a press briefing, Mr. Panelo said Mr. Esperon’s request was “approved.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

No Duterte Youth representative can sit until Cardema case resolved — Guanzon

June 11, 2019 | 9:10 pm

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) started its hearings yesterday on former National Youth Commission chair Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema’s petition to be the Duterte Youth party-list’s first nominee. Comelec Commissioner Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon said during the hearing, “While this case is pending, no one can sit as Duterte Youth.” Ms. Guanzon was the only commissioner who opposed giving due course to Mr. Cardema, citing that he is not qualified to be a youth sector representative being 34 years old. Under the law, youth party-list representatives must be 25 to 30 years old. Mr. Cardema filed a petition to replace his wife, Ducielle Marie D. Suarez-Cardema, who was recently granted a withdrawal of her Certification of Acceptance of Nomination along with the four other Duterte Youth nominees last June 4. The same resolution granted Mr. Cardema “due course” regarding his petition for substitution. Ms. Guanzon also raised questions regarding Duterte Youth supposedly representing both the youth and young professionals when a party-list should focus on one sector. Election lawyer Emilio Marañon III, who represented the petitioners against Mr. Cardema’s substitution, said Duterte Youth is not permitted to represent both sectors considering Mr. Cardema “himself knew he was representing the youth sector.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Trillanes claims to have new evidence relating to Bikoy

June 11, 2019 | 9:10 pm

OUTGOING SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV yesterday said he is in possession of new evidence that will further disprove allegations that he is among those behind a plot to oust President Rodrigo R. Duterte, as claimed by Peter Joemel Advincula. Mr. Trillanes, in a briefing, said he has videos of Mr. Advincula, who claims to be “Bikoy” in the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, that will “debunk the Duterte ouster plot.” He said, “I’ll let you judge if this is consistent sa mga sinasabi niya (with what he says).” Mr. Trillanes said he has also received documents and text conversations from various sources that are linked to Mr. Advincula, showing that he is not credible in his testimonies. The Bikoy narcolist videos claimed that members of Mr. Duterte’s family are involved in the illegal drug trade. — Gillian M. Cortez

PRDP projects in Pangasinan almost complete

June 11, 2019 | 9:09 pm

AGRICULTURE-RELATED projects in Pangasinan implemented under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) are almost complete and the next challenge is ensuring sustainability, a World Bank (WB) official said. “As the PRDP projects near completion, it is another challenge for us in terms of the sustainability part, particularly on how to maintain the projects,” Frauke Jungbluth, team leader of WB’s implementation support mission, said during the North Luzon cluster meeting of the 8^th World Bank Implementation Support Mission held June 7 in Calasiao, Pangasinan. In a statement posted on the Pangasinan provincial government’s official social media page, Vice-Governor (VG) Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr., representing the governor at the forum, thanked WB executives for the PRDP grants. At the same time, Mr. Calimlim raised the suggestion on the need to simplify the processing of papers for acquiring funding. Ms. Jungbluth “responded to the query on PRDP processing in a positive note,” the provincial government said. The PRDP is a nationwide WB-funded program with the Department of Agriculture (DA) as lead implementing agency. “Pangasinan has the largest portfolio of PRDP infrastructure and enterprise sub-projects in Region 1,” said DA Regional Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr. as he lauded the province for its active engagement to the PRDP. He said Pangasinan was granted seven infrastructure sub-projects worth P581.94-M, and 36 enterprise sub-projects worth Php60.14-M., which is second highest in the country.

6 Abu Sayyaf members nabbed in various locations

June 11, 2019 | 9:08 pm

THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested six alleged members of the Abu Sayaff Group in separate operations conducted in Taguig City, Balanga City in Bataan, and Zamboanga City. The six were identified as Azmier G. Maalum, also known as “Totong Aling;” Amar S. Assan (Abu Sonny); Musa Tahil Sampang (Hadji Ramon Gonzales, Hadji Butah); Jamil A. Ibrahim (Malangka Dawasa); Yong H. Aming (Jamal Taib), and Majuk Tahil Amil (Enjie, Ejemal). NBI Assistant Director for Intelligence Service Eric C. Distor said the bureau has arrested nine alleged members of the kidnap-for-ransom group since January. Mr. Maalum, who has standing warrants of arrest for eight counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention over the 2001 Golden Harvest Kidnapping case, was nabbed in Taguig on May 16 along with Mr. Assan. Further investigation by the NBI showed that Mr. Assan was also involved in the Golden Harvest Kidnapping. Mr. Assan also told the whereabouts of Mr. Sampang, also involved in the 2001 kidnapping incident, who was arrested on May 20 in Balanga City Bataan. NBI said reports showed that Mr. Sampang is also involved in the Dr. Torres Memorial Hospital kidnapping in Lamitan, Basilan and bombings in the province. The three others were arrested in Zamboanga. Messrs. Ibrahim and Aming are allegedly involved in the Golden Harvest Kidnapping while Mr. Amil has an arrest warrant over the 2002 Jehova’s Witnesses Kidnapping in Patikul, Sulu. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Transformation of MILF camps begin with community consultations

June 11, 2019 | 9:07 pm

Members of the Government Implementing Panel have started their visits and “conversations” in the six camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in preparation for the transformation of these sites into peaceful and productive communities in line with the new Bangsamoro region. Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil-Mercado of the of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), also chair of the government panel, said the visits are part of the “inclusive approach” for the planning and implementation of programs. “We will be having in-depth conversations and consultations with you so that the government will be able to download what you really want and need… so that the plan will be coming from you and not from the outside,” she told the community as quoted in an OPAPP statement released Tuesday. The six MILF camps are Bushra, Bilal, Rajamuda, Abubakar, Bad’r, and Camp Omar. Panel member and OPAPP Assistant Secretary Ma. Cecilia Papa said it is very important for the members of the camps to have a “sense of ownership” in designing and identifying the socio-economic interventions for their communities. The socio-economic program will focus on the following: camp transformation for basic and life sustenance, scholarships, school buildings, farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure components, and sustainable livelihood.

More comfortable buses

June 11, 2019 | 9:07 pm

Buses with toilet are now serving routes between the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) and the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu. CSBT Manager Jonathan F. Tumulak, in a social media post, said the new buses, which will operate at 45-minute intervals from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., will pass by the Ayala Center, IT Park, SM City, North Bus Terminal, Gaisano Mall, and Marina Mall.

Nation at a Glance — (06/12/19)

June 11, 2019 | 9:07 pm

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Peso climbs on US-Mexico deal

June 11, 2019 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO strengthened on Tuesday as tensions between the United States and Mexico eased following a deal on immigration policies.

The local currency closed at P51.85 on Tuesday, 25 centavos stronger than Monday’s P52.10-per-dollar finish.

The peso opened the session slightly stronger at P52.05 against the dollar. It climbed to as high as P51.84 during the session, while its worst showing was logged at P52.05 intraday.

Trading volume decreased to $867.45 million from the $1.02 billion that switched hands from the previous session.

“Peso [was] tracking the regional FX (foreign exchange) rally with risk sentiment repaired to some extent with Trump and Mexico coming to an amicable settlement,” ING Bank N.V.-Manila Branch senior economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said in an e-mail.

A trader likewise attributed the peso’s climb from optimism on the back of the US-Mexico trade and migration deal signed on Friday.

Last month, US President Donald J. Trump threatened 5% tariffs on Mexican goods to be imposed on Monday. The duties would have increased every month until they reached 25% in October, unless Mexico stopped illegal immigration across its border with Mexico.

On Friday, the tariffs were called off, after the United States and Mexico announced an agreement on immigration. The joint communique issued by the two countries provided few details.

Critics have said there have been no new major commitments to slow the migration of Central Americans to the United States.

The agreement would expedite a program known as the Migration Protection Protocols, which sends people seeking asylum in the United States to wait in Mexico as their cases are processed.

That program, announced in December, would be expanded across the entire US-Mexico border under the terms of the agreement, according to the State Department.

The deal would also send the Mexican National Guard police force to its own southern border, where many Central Americans enter Mexico.

Mr. Trump on Monday hinted more details were to come about the migration pact, saying another portion of the deal with Mexico would need to be ratified by Mexican lawmakers.

“Participants remained cautious ahead of the US CPI (consumer price index) report due to be released during the Philippine Independence Day holiday,” the trader added.

The US CPI data will be released on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website on June 12.

Back home, the local market will be closed due to Independence Day holiday.

The trader expects the peso to weaken on Thursday on expectations of an upbeat US CPI report.

The peso-dollar rate might hover within the P51.70-52 range when the market reopens, the trader said. — with Reuters