Resigned PhilHealth execs to face probe

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has assured that resigned officials of the Philippine Health Insurance (Corporation) will be investigated over their possible involvement in bogus claims.

“The NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) is looking into the possibility that certain PhilHealth officials may be charged for violation of the Anti-Graft Law if they knowingly participated in this allegedly fraudulent scheme and benefitted from it,” Guevarra said in an interview.

Philhealth president and chief executive officer Roy Ferrer has already submitted his courtesy resignation along with six of its board members, namely Roberto Salvador, Celestina dela Serna, Joan Cristine Reina Liban-Lareza, Hildegardes Dineros, Rex Mendoza, and Jack Arroyo.

President Duterte sought their resignation due to alleged fraudulent activities taking place at PhilHealth.

In the meantime, the NBI and Philhealth already filed criminal complaints against 10 persons allegedly involved in the “ghost dialysis” scam of the WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center.

In the complaint, the 10 respondents are accused of estafa and falsification of public documents in violation of the Revised Penal Code.

WellMed allegedly was able to get from PhilHealth ₱808,600 for 27 “ghost dialysis” claims representing 280 dialysis sessions.

Those who were named respondents are WellMed owner Dr. Bryan Christopher Sy, Sy’s father Claro Sy, Sy’s wife Therese Francesca Tan-Sy, Dr. John Ray Gonzales, Alvin Sy, Dick Ong, Dr. Porsha Natividad, and Dr. Joemie Soriano.

Also named respondents are the two whistleblowers, former WellMed employees Liezel Aileen de Leon and Edwin Roberto.

The NBI earlier explained that the whistleblowers will have to be charged first before prosecutors could ask the court to discharge them as state witness.