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MANILA, Philippines – Liquidated funds do not mean they have been “legally disbursed.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday after Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Chairman Dante Gierran said 92 percent of the P15 billion allegedly “stolen” has already been settled.
“The settlement is different than the audit,” Lacson said in a statement.
“Let’s say, if public funds were not spent for Covid-19 as required by the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (MRI), but for dialysis centers and infirmaries and that are clearly not authorized, it can still be declared as liquidated, but it does not mean funds were disbursed legally, “he added.
READ: 92% of P 15-B PhilHealth fund ‘missing’ liquidated
It was during last year’s Senate Committee of the Whole hearing, initiated by Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, that a resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud officer alleged that some 15 billion pesos from the agency’s coffers were allegedly pocketed. By a “mafia union.” in the state insurer through different fraudulent schemes.
Following the Senate investigation, the chamber recommended criminal charges against various current and former PhilHealth officials for the alleged misuse of funds under the state agency’s emergency cash advance measure.
READ: Duke labels Senate ‘unfortunate’ proposal to sue him over PhilHealth mess
Earlier this month, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed corruption complaints against some PhilHealth officials for their alleged involvement in the anomalous release of IRM funds earmarked for “fortuitous” events such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
KGA
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