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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 2) – The National Bureau of Investigation filed a complaint with the Ombudsman against former President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Ricardo Morales, and other agency officials for “questionable” cash advances that were delivered to hospitals earlier this year.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday that the NBI with the backing of the Justice Department brought charges of corruption, embezzlement of public funds or property, and violations of the National Internal Revenue Code against Morales and the following:
– Arnel De Jesus, PhilHealth COO
– Renato Limsiaco, Jr., Senior Vice President, Fund Management Industry
– Israel Pargas, Senior Vice President, Health Finance Policy Sector
– Gregorio Rulloda, Area Vice President for Area II – South Luzon and NCR;
and Concurrent Vice President – PhilHealth NCR Regional Office
– Lolita Tuliao, Branch Manager, PhilHealth Regional Office at NCR
– Imelda Trinidad-De Vera
– Gemma Sibucao
– Lailani Padua
The charges were related to the implementation of the interim reimbursement mechanism scheme that allowed advance payments to hospitals affected by a “fortuitous event” such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
A DOJ task force previously conducted its own research on PhilHealth. Their recommendations shared with the public on September 15 indicated that agency executives were found to be negligent after cash advances were made to hospitals before the circular for its implementation was effective and without withholding tax. President Rodrigo Duterte previously approved the recommendations.
A separate investigation led by the Senate found that the “illegal” disbursements amounted to $ 14 billion.
The task force also recommended charges against the senior vice president and chief information officer, Jovita Aragona, and the acting senior director of the information technology and management department, Calixto Gabuya Jr. show up in the next few days or weeks.
The Senate recommendation, on the other hand, included the chairman of the PhilHealth board, Francisco Duque, on its list of people who should be charged, but the DOJ maintained that there is insufficient evidence to impeach the Secretary of Health.
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