The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 filed on Monday criminal charges against 8 officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) Central Visayas and 3 employees of Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City over an alleged anomalous COVID-19 benefits claim.
NBI 7 Director Rennan Augustus Oliva said the charges were related to a claim that involved a patient who died in April 2020 who was not a frontliner and not COVID-19 positive, contrary to what was filed.
Start your day right with a summary of the top Cebu news stories. Get this roundup as an email. Sign up below.
The patient was not a frontliner and was not Covid positive. Based on our investigation, he was unemployed and jobless for 10 years. He tested negative during the Covid test, but the claim still pushed through” Oliva said in a Sun.Star Cebu report.
NBI 7 Director Rennan Augustus Oliva
Hospital denies charges
Chong Hua hospital issued a statement denying irregularities in the handling of Philhealth claims. It said they are confident that a fair and impartial investigation “will vindicate our good name.”
Philhealth, on the other hand, stressed that it follows guidelines in processing claims.
READ:
- Sun.Star Cebu: Philhealth 7, hospital officers charged for ‘false’ Covid-19 claim
- The Freeman: 11 PhilHealth, CHH execs sued
- CDN Digital: PhilHealth, Chong Hua deny accusations of fraud
What they’re saying:
That is just the tip of the iceberg, and I hope that the NBI will continue its investigation. I commend the NBI for having the courage and the patriotism to file that case (because) this is robbing the national government. Kawat man ni harap-harapan.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia during a press conference in Capitol as reported in Sun.Star Cebu
While we are initially disappointed that the National Bureau of Investigation has given these accusations some merit, we are fully confident that a fair, impartial and politically unprejudiced investigation will absolve us of any anomalies, and vindicate our good name.
Chong Hua Hospital in a press statement
COVID-19 numbers
There were 395 new COVID-19 cases in the entire Cebu yesterday: 249 in Cebu City, 96 in Cebu Province, 28 in Mandaue City, and 22 in Lapu-Lapu City. The new numbers bring the total active cases in the entire Cebu to 4,182.
Top Cebu City barangays with active cases
Guadalupe 167
Labangon 81
Apas 77
Talamban 77
Lahug 63
Tisa 63
Barrio Luz 59
Capitol Site 54
Kasambagan 54
Punta Princesa 54
Basak San Nicolas 53
Mabolo 53
Mambaling 44
Sambag 1 43
Inayawan 40
(Source: The Freeman)
Mayor Labella moves to name VM Rama vaccine czar; vice mayor says “no thanks”
After the recent exchange of words on social media between Cebu City’s 2 top officials comes the latest development: Mayor Edgardo Labella is reported to be set to appoint Vice Mayor Michael Rama vaccine czar to oversee Cebu City’s COVID-19 vaccination.
“Thanks, but no thanks. Not needed,” Rama said. He added that he does “not want to be called as vaccine czar.”
READ: Labella names Rama Covid-19 vaccine czar; VM says ‘no thanks’
Meanwhile…
Yesterday, health and law enforcement officials held a simulation for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Cebu. The team completed the simulated transport of vaccines from the airport to the cold storage facilities at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Government should act urgently to help economy, workers
Given this gloom and doom, the government should act with a sense of urgency. And if it has no readily-available solutions then, at the very least, government agencies should not undertake measures that exacerbate the sufferings of both the business sectors and the working class.
Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez: Government should stop hurting the economy and the workers
Guadalupe Sunday lockdown to continue
Strict lockdown and mandatory “stay-at-home” on Sundays will continue to be enforced in Barangay Guadalupe as COVID-19 cases continue to increase.
Hangtud pa gyud mi ani og mogamay na’ng kaso diri og balik. Pero unsaon man pud ni’ng daghan man gihapong mga badlongon, naay uban katulo na namo nadakpan, nindot og prisohon na lang unta ni’g klaro.
Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan
READ:
- The Freeman: Barangay Guadalupe extends “stay-at-home” Sundays
- Sun.Star Cebu: ‘Sunday lockdown’ in Guadalupe extended
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES
Cebu Business Park sets up bike lanes to improve road safety.
The 7-kilometer bike lane network spreads on the main streets of Cebu Business Park, which include, Mindanao Ave, Luzon Ave, Cardinal Rosales Ave, Leyte Loop, Samar Loop, Negros Road, Sumilon, and Pescadores.
