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MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President Dante Gierran is being “too cautious” to expedite the agency’s payment of its more than $ 1 billion debt to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC ), Senator Richard Gordon said Tuesday.
Gordon surmised that Gierran is cautious because he fears being subject to possible future investigations related to the release of PhilHealth funds.
“Maybe he (Gierran) just wants to be relieved. He may not be able to, he’s stubborn, ”the senator told reporters in an interview.
(You may want to be relieved that you can’t do it anymore. That’s why you’re stubborn.)
“What I heard him say, this is a rumor: ‘When the president leaves, a new administration, won’t they investigate me? I must not be too careful. He’s very careful with him (Gierran), he’s very reckless with people who won’t be evaluated, ”Gordon added.
(What I’m hearing is, this is a rumor, ‘if the president resigns and a new administration takes office they might investigate me so I have to be very cautious.’ He was very cautious, but his action would be too reckless for people who are not tested).
Gierran also showed that he was “stubborn” when he allegedly refused to immediately pay the PhilHealth balance to the People’s Republic of China under a COVID-19 testing agreement despite the urging of several executive officials, according to the senator.
“[He has] an inexplicable attitude of being recalcitrant, ”Gordon said of Gierran, who was appointed to head PhilHealth last August.
“I really had a lot of respect for him. I am totally perplexed why he is acting this way, ”added the senator.
Gierran replaced former PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales, who, among several other officials, is now facing a case over the alleged questionable release of agency funds.
This is a new world. [Gierran is] like a new kid on the block surrounded by all kinds of snakes, jackals and hyenas. I was scared, I was scared to move, ”Gordon continued.
(This is a new world for him. He’s like a new kid on the block surrounded by all kinds of snakes, jackals, and hyenas. He’s scared. He’s scared to move).
“I think he’s scared of who to trust and that’s really difficult,” he added.
(He’s cautious about who to trust, and that’s difficult.)
“’Di ka dapat matakot (You must not be afraid). Fear is just an excuse. When you accept a job, an oath, you do everything you can, ”Gordon advised the head of PhilHealth.
Gordon said that he, Gierran, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Attorney General Menardo Guevarra and Test Czar Vince Dizon already met last week via videoconference to discuss PhilHealth’s debt to the People’s Republic of China for the test that the latter carried out for the government.
He added that he was informed that since yesterday a check has already been prepared, but has not yet been signed.
“It looks like the check was delivered yesterday and it wasn’t just signed. I don’t know what that means, ”Gordon said.
(A check is already ready since yesterday, but has not yet been signed. I don’t know what that means).
PhilHealth previously promised to pay off its debt to PRC on Monday, but Gordon said the state insurer has yet to pay it off as promised.
Since October 15, the People’s Republic of China stopped testing Filipino workers arriving overseas, passengers in airports and seaports, people needing COVID-19 testing at government swabbing facilities. , frontline health and government workers, and others in the Department’s expanded testing guidelines. of health.
PhilHealth has “a lot of money,” noted the PRC president.
“Either scold the masyado to the point of stupidity, it’s absurd, or someone is getting a free pass,” he said.
(Either they are being too careful to the point of stupidity, it is absurd, or someone is getting a free pass.)
He believes that the lack of testing by the PRC for the government has “opened up opportunities” for private labs, which would supposedly cost much more to test than the humanitarian organization charges P3,500 per test. [ac]
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