(MANILA BULLETIN)
In the meantime, NBI National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) Director Cesar Bacani said the cases investigated by his office are currently being evaluated by the NBI’s Legal Division to determine if there is enough evidence for the filing of complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).
“Nasa NBI legal pa for evaluation ang ibang kasunod (The cases are with the NBI legal division),” Bacani said.
“Depende sa legal division if agree sila sa recommendations ng NCR office (It’s up to the legal division if it will agree to the recommendations made by the NBI-NCR office),” he added.
PhilHealth, private healthcare officials slapped with charges
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday filed new criminal and administrative complaints against officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) over alleged irregularities in a financial assistance program for health care institutions hammered by “fortuitous” events like the coronavirus pandemic.
The NBI filed the complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against resigned PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Ricardo C. Morales, among other former and current officials, for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The respondents also face raps for allegedly misappropriating funds in violation of the National Health Insurance Act of 2013. They also face administrative charges of grave misconduct, gross negligence, and conduct prejudicial to public interest.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7) The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth on Thursday said ₱13 billion of funds under the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism or IRM had already been liquidated by recipient health care institutions.
The state health insurer added that this represents 87% of the ₱14.97 billion released under the IRM as of December 21. PhilHealth said a total of 353 of 711 health care facilities have declared full liquidation.
It added that 273 institutions have liquidated at least 50%, while the rest are still below this.
PhilHealth said the liquidation proves it did not lose ₱15 billion to corruption.
Of the amount liquidated, the highest recorded was in the National Capital Region with ₱3.59 billion. Central Luzon followed with ₱1.77 billion, and CALABARZON with ₱1.026 billion.
Department of Health (DOH) (MANILA BULLETIN)
“Ang masasabi ko (All I can say is that), 2020 is the most difficult year in the history of the Department. The most difficult…Buong mundo (The whole world) has been brought down to its knees,” said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“Even the most powerful countries talagang pinaiyak ng (really shed tears because of) COVID-19. Lahat talaga umiyak dito. Sobrang takot, pag-aalangan, sobrang maraming mga unknowns (Everyone really cried. Too much fear, hesitation, too many unknowns),” he added.
Pandemic
The COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” on Jan. 30 after it was also detected in other parts of the world. On March 11, the WHO characterized it as a pandemic.
Published December 29, 2020, 5:45 PM
A year of overcoming challenges on health, economy and accountability, and a year of giving voice to women, children and the vulnerable sectors of society.
For the four opposition senators, it was an opportunity to relentlessly do their part as fiscalizers in the Senate despite the limitations on physical interactions and stringent health protocols. It was also the year the Senate started to fully embrace the notion of conducting committee hearings and plenary sessions virtually or via teleconferencing.
It was a year of overcoming challenges on health, economy and accountability, and a year of giving voice to women, children and the vulnerable sectors of society.