THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is set to expand its fact-finding probe on other hospitals and clinics with suspicious claims for dialysis treatment paid by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed this on Sunday following the indictment of the executives of WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center led by physician-businessman Bryan Sy for their involvement in bogus claims. The total estimated bogus claims from various culprits is at P154 billion.
“My directive to the NBI covers not only WellMed but also other clinics and hospitals. After WellMed, the NBI will investigate other suspicious claims,” Guevarra told reporters.
Guevarra expects more whistleblowers to come out and aid the NBI in its expanded investigation on reports that many other dialysis treatment establishments were involved in the irregularity.
“Hopefully, the NBI can get the assistance of the new PhilHealth management team,” he stressed.
Last week, PhilHealth board members and executives led by its president and chief executive officer, Roy Ferrer, resigned their posts.
Aside from Ferrer, those who resigned were Jack Arroyo, elected local chief executive; Rex Maria Mendoza, independent director of the Monetary Board; Hildegardes Dineros of the information economy sector; Celestina Ma. Jude dela Serna of the Filipino overseas workers sector; Roberto Salvador of the formal economy sector; and Joan Cristine Reina Liban-Lareza of the health-care provider sector.
Their resignation, according to Guevarra, will not prevent the NBI from continuing the investigation against them.
The NBI is looking into the possibility of
holding the officials liable for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act “if they knowingly participated in this allegedly fraudulent
scheme and benefitted from it.”
Estafa and falsification
of documents have been filed by the NBI against Sy and other WellMed officers
last week.
Meanwhile, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila City granted bail to Sy on the criminal charges filed against him by the DOJ.
His lawyer, Rowell Ilagan, said Sy was released from detention by the NBI on Sunday morning.
Sy was arrested on June 10 by the NBI in connection with the aleged fraudulent dialysis claims from PhilHealth involving patients who had already died.
His wife filed a petition for habeas corpus before Branch 20 of the Manila RTC questioning the validity of his detention for lack of a warrant of arrest.
The petition was denied by presiding Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali.
On Saturday, however, Judge Jerome Jimenez of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch allowed Sy to post bail of P72,000 for his temporary liberty.
However, Sy was not immediately released due to the absence of signatories from the NBI, according to his lawyer.
Aside from Sy, named in the criminal complaints were WellMed executives Dr. John Ray Gonzales, medical director; Claro Sy, chairman; Alvin Sy, corporate treasurer; Therese Francesca Tan, purchasing officer; Dick Ong, administration officer; and Drs. Porshia Natividad and Joemie Soriano.
Also charged were whistle-blowers Edwin Roberto and Liezel Aileen Santos. However, Guevarra said Roberto and Santos may apply as prosecution witnesses and may be placed under the government’s witness protection program.