The Unauthorized Bonuses of 1.761 Billion Granted to Philhealth Officers and Employees Should Be Re-investigated

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Philhealth Unauthorized Bonuses Amounting 1.761 Billion PHP

The Senate should have the Balls to re-investigate the unauthorized bonuses of 1.761 billion php granted to Philhealth officers and employees in 2013 during Hontiveros' term as Philhealth board member. 

The 11 million OFWs opposed to Philhealth Circular No. 022, because it against the Republic Act No. 10022 which was officially approved and signed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 08, 2010. However, the said petition of OFWs around the world did not work. The Philhealth annual premium of 900 php was officially increased to 2,400 php on July 1, 2012, the Philippines was under the leadership of former president Noynoy Aquino.

Now I realized and have the feelings that the increased of Philhealth annual premium from 900 php to 2,400 php on July 1, 2012 has relevant connection with the 1.761 billion php which were considered as unauthorized bonuses by the National Association of Lawyers for Justice and Peace granted to officers and employees of Philhealth in 2013 during the term of Risa Hontiveros as Philhealth board member. 

Obviously Risa Hontiveros now a Senator has denied the accusation but on the following records, she became Philhealth board member in 2013 and in November 2014 Risa Hontiveros was officially appointed as Director of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).

Can you imagine and feel the magical events? In 2012, Philhealth annual premium was increased from 900 php to 2,400 php. Then the following year of 2013, during Risa Hontiveros' term as Philhealth board member the unauthorized bonuses of large sum of money of 1.761 billion php were allegedly granted to Philhealth officers and employees. 

The said PhilHealth Circular No. 022 was against the REPUBLIC ACT No. 10022 – AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995, AS AMENDED, FURTHER IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF MIGRANT WORKERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS IN DISTRESS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Under the RULE XVII: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS – Section 4. Government Fees, Administrative Costs and Taxes. All fees for services being charged by any government agency on migrant workers prevailing at the time of the effectivity of this Rule shall not be increased. 

Early in 2012, The Migrante Middle East had appealed to all fellow OFWs around the world, their dependents, friends and OFW advocates to join their campaign by signing the petition and help pass it on to others and urged them to “Scrap Philippine Health Circular No. 022 – this was about the increase of PhilHealth annual premium contribution from P900 to P2,400.

The Migrante Middle East petition said, “The hike in OFWs health insurance premium will not only bleed us (OFWs and dependents) dry, it also sucks out our blood leading ‘to death due to deprivation of free and affordable social services’. The government through various agencies is killing us so softly by imposing additional fees in pretense of better social services."

The Migrante Middle East further said “We are targeting 1-M signatures by July 2012, the supposed start of imposing PhilHealth premium of P2,400 from the current P900. With our position paper, we will send the signatures to President Noynoy Aquino and to the PhilHealth Board members, members of the Senate and House of Representatives.” 

During the year of 2012, the 14 PhilHealth Board of Directors were as follows: 

1. Board Chair: Hon. Enrique T. Ona, M.D.
2. CSC Chairman: Hon. Francisco T. Duque III, M.D., MSc
3. DILG Secretary: Hon. Jesse M. Robredo
4. DSWD Secretary: Hon. Corazon J. Soliman
5. DOLE Secretary: Hon. Rosalinda D. Baldoz
6. Health Care Providers Sector: Hon. Juan M. Flavier, M.D.
7. Labor Sector: Hon. Alexander A. Ayco, M.D.
8. Employers Sector/President and Chief Executive Officer: Hon. Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon
9. Self Employed Sector: Hon. Francisco Vicente F. Lopez M.D.
10. SSS President & CEO: Hon. Emilio S. De Quiros, Jr.
11. GSIS President & General Manager: Hon. Robert G. Vergara
12. NAPC-BS Vice Chairman: Hon. Florencia P. Cabatingan
13. Filipino Overseas Workers: Hon. Jane M.N. Sta. Ana
14. Corporate Secretary: Atty. Genesis M. Adarlo

Risa Hontiveros now a Senator was a board member of Philhealth when the P1.761 billion in unauthorized bonuses were allegedly granted to officers and employees of PhilHealth in 2013 during her term. In November 2014, Risa Hontiveros was appointed director of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Source of idea and other info:

Philhealth Circular No. 022
2013 Risa Hontiveros was Board Member of Philhealth 
November 2014, Risa Hontiveros was Appointed Director of Philhealth
Lawyers Urge Risa Hontiveros to Return Illegal Philhealth Bonuses