Ex-health chief on graft raps: 'Harassment'

MANILA, Philippines — Former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial yesterday dismissed as “harassment” the graft charges filed against her before the Office of Ombudsman in connection with the controversy involving former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) head Celestina Ma. Jude dela Cerna.

“I view it as harassment for someone like me who has kept the faith, been a loyal public servant and dedicated my life to doing what is right and what is for the common good. Some people in government see this as a threat to their crooked and sinister ways, thus the complaints filed against me,” Ubial said.

Promising to answer the anti-graft complaints, she maintained she has not committed any wrongdoing while serving the government and expects the case to be dismissed for lack of merit. 

“I have done nothing wrong in my 29 years in public service. So far, five ombudsman cases filed against me have been dismissed and did not even proceed to the formal hearing stage,” Ubial noted.

She stressed that as then health secretary, she also sat as chairman of the PhilHealth board, but she did not render any decision on her own as “all decisions of the board are collegial and done by majority vote or consensus.”

She was implicated in the anti-graft case against Dela Cerna for certifying the latter’s expenses travel and lodging expenses.