PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) interim president and CEO Celestina Ma. Jude de la Serna was confident that she can justify her trips in 2017.
In a press conference, de la Serna said she was not worried because the trips were properly documented.
“I am covered by a board resolution as well as travel order signed by the secretaries of health that I have worked with,” said de la Serna.
“So wala akong katakot-takot. Sa pagkakaintindi ko, these are enough to cover,” she added.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered an investigation into the travels of De la Serna after the Commission on Audit (COA) asked the Philhealth chief to comment on several disbursements paid amounting to P923,174.21 as they were allegedly not in accordance with COA Circular No. 2012-003.
“I asked the president to hear me. Sabi niya ‘gawin mo lang kung ano sa tingin mo ang tama, sagot kita’. So yon ang tingin ko ay tama. Kung mali man ang ginagawa ko, kailangan mag-usap kami,” said de la Serna.
(The President told me to do what I think is right. If what I'm doing is wrong, then we will talk.)
The disbursements in question are for certain allowances she received in 2017 amounting to P143,881.17; payments for meetings attended through teleconferencing/videoconferencing amounting to P152,000; and payment for several local travels for P627,293.04. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)