Ilegal kontrata pero matapang sumingil! Ace Barbers tells Red Cross to stop ‘blackmailing’ gov’t over COVID-19 testing debt

Surigao Del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has warned the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) led by Senator Richard Gordon to stop “blackmailing” the government by stopping its COVID-19 testing due to Philhealth’s failure to pay its nearly P1-billion debt.

In a statement Sunday (October 25), Barbers said the Philhealth has a right to review the contract for COVID-19 testing with PRC because it was paid for using public funds.

“PNRC has no right to impose on the government and demand payment for the alleged testings done on people. For one, it was learned that the PNRC has no valid contract with Philhealth over the alleged mass testing to be charged to Philhealth,” he said.

Barbers said the contract that Philhealth entered into with PRC was for the advance payment of P100 million to the non-profit organization for COVID-19 in compliance with the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

However, he said the memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to government agencies regarding partnerships with PRC had the clause “subject to reimbursement” and there should be no advance payments as Philhealth did.

“The MOA therefore between Philhealth and PNRC is illegal as Philhealth has no authority to enter into a MOA and grant PNRC the ADVANCE PAYMENTS,” Barbers said.

PRC has stopped conducting COVID-19 tests for the government since October 16 due to Philhealth’s failure to pay its debt. The state-run health insurer said it is reviewing the deal with the organization.

President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, has promised that the government will pay PRC as soon as possible.

Barbers said COVID-19 testing for returning overseas Filipino workers, as well as suspected cases in government quarantine facilities, should not suffer because of PRC’s demands.

If only for alleged unpaid dues you will resort to blackmailing, I wonder why the University of the Philippines has not evicted you yet from its property over which allegedly you have not paid rent for years”, he said.

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