No P10-B diversion: Butch Abad slams Dick’s ‘brazen lie’ over Philhealth anomalies

Former Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad Jr. disputed on Tuesday (August 25) the findings of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which recommended charges against him over the alleged diversion of P10.6 billion for senior citizens’ premiums under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).

In a statement, Abad called the findings of the committee headed by Senator Richard Gordon “baseless” and “built on nothing but unfounded accusations.”

“The basis of the charges against me– that I helped divert P10.6 billion originally intended for the payment of senior citizens’ premiums for Philhealth– is a brazen lie. In the first place, there was no P10.6-billion budget to speak of. Not in the 2015 GAA (General Appropriations Act), not anywhere. How could funds be diverted when they were not in the budget to start with?” he said.

The Gordon-led panel has recommended the filing of graft and other charges against Abad, former health secretary Janette Garin and former PhilHealth president & CEO Alexander Padilla for supposedly diverting P10.6 billion to questionable projects, including the construction of barangay health stations.

The fund was disbursed in December 2015, months before the May 2016 national elections.

Abad said that while Philhealth applied for funding of senior citizens’ premiums under the 2015 national budget, it didn’t push through since there was no new or additional sources of revenues.

He said the P9.4-billion budget for the construction of barangay health stations, rural and urban health centers and dental equipment came from savings from unused personnel funds from the miscellaneous personnel benefit fund. Abad said this was allowed under the law.

The former Budget Secretary said it was “strange” that his name was never mentioned throughout the Senate panel’s 39-page report but charges were recommended against him.

“That’s laughable magic: No facts stipulated, no violations soundly alleged, but a recommendation nonetheless to file charges against me,” he said.

The post No P10-B diversion: Butch Abad slams Dick’s ‘brazen lie’ over Philhealth anomalies first appeared on Latest Philippine politics news today.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)