- PhilHealth Double Filing Case 2. Baby Switching 3. Expiring HIV and Drug Testing Kits 4. Unutilized Machines worth PHP 15 million pesos
The Presidential Complaint Center endorsed a letter from Novaliches District Hospital employees alleging breach of warranties in a PhilHealth double filing case, a civil case involving alleged baby switching, misuse of funds of the Local Government in the purchase of laboratory machines that have remained unused and irregularity in the acquisition but non-utilization of HIV and Drug Testing Kits. The Department of Health would be conducting the investigation on the LGU owned NDH.
The then incoming Mayor of Quezon City Joy Belmonte was informed of the complaints against the incoming Medical Director (a certain Dr. Aldana) but the problematic physician was appointed nonetheless. Said physician on his first day of office terminated 22 contract of service employees and consultants of NDH. Mayor Belmonte came out on record that there would be no firing, termination or non-renewal of contracts of city employees which contradicted the action of the medical director who caused the separation from service of the NDH personnel. Significantly, the power to fire and hire for the city is vested upon the mayor so the medical director acted without authority to do so. Seven weeks after the easing out of the NDH employees, and even after the Office of the President ordered an investigation on the alleged illegal termination, the concerned employees remain unemployed.
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Malacanang investigates Quezon City for Illegal Termination of employees and consultants
The Office of President Duterte thru the Office of Executive Secretary Medialdea, on July 5, 2019, endorsed for evaluation and appropriate action the complaints of several concerned employees of the Novaliches District Hospital, managed by the local government unit of Quezon City.
Fifteen COS (contract of service) employees and seven consultants were unceremoniously informed on July 1, 2019 that their contracts would no longer be renewed. July 1 was the first day of office of senators, representatives, governors, vice-governors, provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors and councilors. In Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte assumed office and her appointed Novaliches District Hospital Medical Director, with the name of a certain Doctor Aldana, also on his first day to return to that position, promptly issued walking papers to the twenty-two. Said memorandum of the Medical Director was in direct conflict to the pronouncement of the new mayor that no contract of service would be terminated.
Analysis: The Office of the Mayor of Quezon City proclaimed that it has the sole prerogative of hiring and firing as far as city employees are concerned. If that is the case, then on whose authority did the Novaliches District Hospital Medical Director issue the termination memorandum? A grave abuse of authority/discretion case against the Medical Director is a legal option available to the aggrieved parties. Aside from that, how come it has taken weeks to start an investigation to the detriment of hospital patients and services? In the same span of time the City of Manila has progressed by leaps and bounds under the able leadership of new Mayor Isko Moreno. On the other hand, Quezon City is being left behind on the garbage clearing and road obstruction (illegally parked vehicles and vendors taking over sidewalks and streets) fronts.
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