MANILA – The Senate is set to recommend charges against Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales and other high-ranking officials over alleged irregularities at the state health insurer.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said among the charges recommended by the Senate Committee of the Whole to be filed against the PhilHealth officials include malversation, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, violation of the National Internal Revenue Code, and perjury.
PhilHealth officials recommended for case filing were Morales, Fund Management Sector senior vice president Renato Limsiaco Jr., senior vice president and chief information officer Jovita Aragona, and senior ICT officer Calixto Gabuya Jr.
PhilHealth officials, according to Lacson, clearly committed malversation when they implemented the interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) when the circular providing for it had not been deemed effective. Funds were also transferred to dialysis centers, infirmaries, and maternity centers even if they could not be considered as responding to “fortuitous” events.
“Lumalabas na hindi pa effective ‘yung implementasyon ng IRM, namigay na sila ng pera. Umabot na ng P14.9 billion ang naipamigay,” he said.
“Pangalawa, hindi saklaw ng fortuitous event ‘yung nabigyan nila ng P226 million. Ito ‘yung mga dialysis centers. Pangatlo, walang board resolution kasi in-issue ‘yung IRM, March 20, pagkatapos ang dissemination date ay April 22,” he added.
The senator also explained the possible violation of the National Internal Revenue Code and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Meron pang violation ng National Internal Revenue Code tapos may falsification pa. May anti-graft pa, ‘yung Republic Act 3019, kasi hinugot nila doon sa corporate operating budget ‘yung pondo. E pera ng gobyerno ‘yun. Hindi puwedeng gamitin ‘yun na pambayad ng tax,” he said.
Lacson added that even if the Senate has recommended charges against PhilHealth officials, it is up to the task force created by President Rodrigo Duterte to decide which charges will be filed./PN
