(Eagle News) — The interim chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation who was rapped by the Commission on Audit for her allegedly excessive travel expenses has denied any irregularity.
Celestina Ma. Jude de la Serna said the over P600,000 worth of travel expenses was “above board and within the limit set by existing policies and rules and regulations.”
“We cannot emphasize more that these are purely official in nature and truly necessary in the performance of my duty,” she said.
While she welcomed any investigation into the matter, she asked President Rodrigo Duterte to hear her side.
Earlier, COA noted Dela Serna’s travel expenses, which it said amounted to P627,000, in just a year of office.
COA also asked De la Serna to explain her receipt of allowances and per diem amounting to almost P1 million.