Regalado formerly served as senior counsel for the consortium’s legal representative.
The Philippines’ Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado has been placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay whilst facing administrative charges.
The Office of the Ombudsman issued the suspension order on 28 July, reported philstar.com.
The decision follows administrative complaints filed against Regalado for grave misconduct, along with alleged violations of Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Republic Act 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.
The Ombudsman stated that Regalado showed clear bias by approving the accreditation of an insurance consortium under the Personal Passenger Accident Insurance Program for public utility vehicles.
The approval reportedly went through despite questions surrounding the group’s membership, the timing of its application, and breaches of the Insurance Commission’s own regulations.
The case also highlights a potential conflict of interest, as Regalado previously worked as senior counsel for the law firm representing the accredited consortium.
Furthermore, Regalado is accused of failing to answer requests for documents related to the accreditation, refusing to release records needed for an appeal, and excluding the complainant’s legal team from a meeting with the Insurance Commission.
