Fitial: Removal of THC director valid

Despite the dissolution of the Department of Public Health, the removal of Ray Dela Cruz as Tinian Health Center resident director effective Oct. 1, 2011, is still valid, according to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.

The governor said this is so because erstwhile DPH secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez’s action was pursuant to the will of the healthcare corporation and not on behalf of the public health department.

Dela Cruz, whose contract was supposed to expire in April next year, was replaced by his chief of staff Freddy Hofschneider, who was named acting resident director for THC for 30 days.

Fitial yesterday acknowledged that the memorandum that removed Dela Cruz from the post was issued by Villagomez for and on behalf of the corporation. The DPH, he emphasized, served in the interim effective Oct. 1 and that Hofschneider’s temporary appointment was made also on behalf of the corporation.

“The corporation has the authority to appoint somebody in an acting [capacity] in lieu of the resident director,” Fitial said yesterday after the swearing in the new members of the corporation board and its chief executive officer.

Attorney General Edward Buckingham also affirmed that Villagomez, as then DPH chief, was delegated the authority as the corporation’s “custodian.”

Dela Cruz did not answer his cell phone yesterday when contacted for comments.

Newly installed CEO Juan Babauta refused to comment on Dela Cruz’s removal, saying he still needs to assess and issue a report on THC.

Compared to the traditional appointment of resident directors when the centers were still under the municipality, Babauta said that all positions will go through new procedures of announcing the position and receiving applications.

“The law is very specific on the requirements for resident directors. They have to have a bachelor degree and a certain number of years of experience and if they qualify, they can be considered for the position,” he said.

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. took over the operations of DPH on Oct. 1. It assumed all functions and duties of DPH, including the Commonwealth Health Center, Rota and Tinian health centers, Women’s Clinic, Children’s Clinic, Community Guidance Center, inter-island medical referral services, and other clinics.