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MANILA, Philippines – The more than P14 billion in “invalid and illegal” releases allegedly made by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) could amount to more than 600 embezzlement charges, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.
During the plenary session, Lacson cited the recent Senate Committee of the Whole report, which noted that PhilHealth released IRM funds to 632 Health Care Institutions (HCIs) from March 25 to June 10 of this year, in the amount of of more than P14 billion.
According to the committee report, these communications are “invalid and illegal” as the circular memorandum for the implementation of the RIM only came into effect on June 11.
READ: Senate panel wants Duque, Morales and other executives to be sued over PhilHealth funding disaster
“In relation to the IRM and article 217 (Embezzlement), there are at least 632 acts of embezzlement if we follow the line of the committee’s report. Every act of embezzlement would constitute embezzlement of public funds, ”Lacson said.
“Given that there were 632 disbursements considered illegal according to the committee’s report, there are 632 cases of violation of Article 217 … Each transaction or disbursement is covered by a [memorandum of agreement] between HCI and PhilHealth so talagang (is really) a separate act[s],” He explained.
According to Lacson, 339 of the 632 “acts of misconduct” carry a life sentence, since the amount of the IRM fund released exceeded P8.8 million.
“There are 339 of the 632 amounts involved that exceed P8.8 million, which raises the sanctions. The amount of the threshold eh ‘pag (if) exceeds P8.8 million, perpetual imprisonment’ yung (is the) penalty ”, he said.
The Senate Committee of the Whole previously recommended the filing of charges of misconduct, as well as corruption and corruption, against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and several other PhilHealth officials for the “improper and illegal” release of these IRM funds.
But Duque, who promised to clear his name, dismissed the committee’s findings as “unfounded,” even saying it was based on mere accusations.
Duque said he was involved with the distribution of IRM funds when “he was not even part of the deliberation and did not sign the aforementioned resolution” authorizing it.
The IRM is PhilHealth’s emergency cash advance measure to provide hospitals with a crisis fund to respond to natural disasters, calamities, and other unexpected events.
Following controversies and accusations of favoritism in its implementation, PhilHealth suspended its IRM program although the state insurer has maintained that the scheme is “legal and necessary” for the country’s response to COVID-19.
KGA
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