PhilHealth head faces maul rap
THE National Bureau of Investigation district office in Dagupan City has recommended the filing of a formal charge against Dr. Leo Cardona, regional director of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), for attacking several employees of Leisure Coast Hotel.
In a January 20 letter to the City Prosecution Office, Atty. Rogelio Mamauag, NBI agent-in-charge, made the recommendation following the complaint of one of the victims, Raymond Zambrano, a waiter at Leisure Coast.
The case stems from an incident during PhilHealth’s Christmas Party on December 15 when Cardona, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, hit Zambrano while trying to pacify the doctor who was assaulting the resort’s assistant general manager, Fidel Arzadon II, and the banquet supervisor, Richard Lomboy.
PhilHealth employees who were at the party witnessed the incident and have sent out an e-mail to the media denouncing the disorderly conduct of their regional director.
However, the employees have preferred to stay anonymous for fear of reprisal from Cardona whom they believe is “untouchable” given his close ties with a top official in Malacañang.
The employees said Cardona has always been “untouchable” even when he was still with the PhilHealth central office in Pasig City.
A fact-finding committee was formed by the PhilHealth central office to look into the matter but most employees believe this mere “moro-moro” and no serious investigation will be undertaken.
The employees said that was not the first time Cardona displayed bad temper and behavior.
They said that stakeholders in the region, which include hospital staff, doctors and local government officials “can attest at how obnoxious Dr. Cardona treats his people”.
“We have endured him for more than a year because we are afraid of what he can do against some or all of us”, they said.
According to employees, Cardona started drinking as soon as the party started at 6:30 p.m. At past 11:00 p.m., the already drunk Cardona called on everyone to the dance floor, even threatening to withhold the Christmas bonus of those who refuse.
Cardona, speaking on a microphone, also called on the music operator to increase the volume, but the latter instead started to fade out the sound as he heeded the call of the program host to change the music.
An irked Cardona called the music operator “stupid” then approached and hit him. Several waiters pacified Cardona who then went back to the dance floor.
But soon after, Cardona rushed outside the hall and attacked the banquet supervisor, whom he mistook as a waiter, breaking the supervisor’s eye glasses.
When Zambrano intervened, he was boxed by Cardona until the PhilHealth executive’s driver and relatives joined to break the commotion.—LM
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