Davao City-based diabetologist Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, former acting president and chief executive officer of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and 10 other former high- ranking PhilHealth officials were cleared by the office of the Ombudsman in criminal and administrative charges filed by a group of seven PhilHealth employees.
The OMB dismissed the criminal and administrative charges filed in 2019 against Dr. Ferrer, now an assistant secretary of the Department of Health; , former 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; chief of staff Raul Dominic I. Badilla; health finance policy sector SVP Israel Pargas; Angelito Grande; Laurence M. Mijares; and acting senior manager of operations audit department Leila Tuazon.
The complaints against them were filed by Miriam Grace G. Pamonag, Jelbert B. Galicto, Dennis B. Adre, William O. Chavez, Paolo Johann C. Perez, Khaliguzzman M. Macabato and Valerie Anne H. Hollero.
The complainants alleged that the PhilHealth officials filed “baseless administrative cases” against them from Sept. 2017 to May 2019; thereby oppressing and harassing them.
They claimed their preventive suspensions could have been simultaneously served instead of filing one formal charge after another in violation of Section 31 of the Civil Service Commission rules.
They likewise alleged there was “ unwarranted reassignments” made without their consent and that they were publicly humiliated in the PhilHealth internal communication system, casting doubt on their integrity.
In dismissing the charges against Ferrer and the other PhilHealth officers; the Ombudsman said it finds neither probable cause to indict them nor substantial evidence to justify imposing sanctions against them.
“It must be pointed out that the overt acts of respondents—recommending the filing of administrative charges as imposition of preventive suspension against complainants, acting as prosecutor in the administrative cases among others– are part of their respective functions either in their capacity as officials of PhilHealth or by Board Resolution directing them to perform such duties”, the ruling stated.
The OMB said “ thus, mere performance of the said acts, without more, should not be readily taken as proof of intention to participate in any conspiracy to commit a wrong against complainants”, it said.
The joint resolution dismissing the cases against Dr. Ferrer and t company were signed by a special panel of OMB investigators composed of Leilam P. Tagulao-Marquez, graft investigation and prosecution officer lll; Renato A. Peralta Jr.,graft investigation and prosecution officer lll; Rose T. Ventayen-Vallejo, graft investigation and prosecution officer ll; Voltaire B. Africa, graft investigation and prosecution officer ll; and Jinky Y. Anarna, graft investigation and prosecution officer ll.
