Negros officials agree
to stay with PhilHealth
TWO SOLONS MAY SEEK HOUSE PROBE
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental provincial officials and mayors yesterday agreed to stay with PhiHealth this year after it president offered an easier payment scheme for the premiums of their indigent beneficiaries, Gov Alfredo Marañon Jr. said.

Dr. Eduardo Banzon, PhilHealth president and chief executive officer, met with Marañon and Negros Occidental congressmen, board members and mayors at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City yesterday.

Marañon had earlier said that the 31 mayors of the province had agreed to withdraw payment of premiums for their 148,081 indigent enrollees with PhilHealth, and instead pay the amount directly to the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care Programthat will be their health insurance provider instead.

Criminal and administrative complaints for alleged violation of the anti-torture law have been filed against Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz and nine policemen before the office of the Ombudsman of the military and other law enforcement offices in the Visayas.

De la Paz yesterday said the charges were filed by three men linked to the robbery and rape of a foreign national in Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City in September last year.

Also charged are former CIDG-Bacolod head Chief Insp. Ernor Melgarejo, Senior Police Officer 1 Rosendo Bersal and Police Officer 2 Edney Matillano, who were relieved from their posts in October.

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) yesterday said he has held off filing his Sugar Act bill, initially planned for December, on the request of sugar industry stakeholders.

The sugar planters have asked for a meeting next week, he said.

“The industry stakeholders have asked me to hold the filing of the bill in abeyance so we can come up with a final draft first,” Benitez said.