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DOJ endorses PhilHealth regional office fraud raps to Ombudsman

By Benjamin Pulta

January 12, 2021, 1:53 pm

MANILA – The Task Force PhilHealth has officially endorsed to the Office of the Ombudsman the report of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on its investigation on alleged fraudulent membership enrolment activities and benefit claims made at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Office 1 (Northern Luzon), an official said on Tuesday.

In a statement, Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Neil Bainto said criminal and administrative complaints were recommended against 25 incumbent and former officials of the state health insurance firm, the majority of whom are from the regional office.

The charges include falsification of public documents under Article 171 in relation to Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the RPC, usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the RPC; violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; violations of the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act 9241 and Republic Act 10606; and administrative liabilities for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, Bainto said.

The charges stemmed from a fake account created at the PhilHealth Regional Office 1 under the name “Pamela Del Rosario” which had retroactive contributions applied and ante-dated.

It was found out that 27 fraudulent claims were then made under the account.

The report also recommended charging PhilHealth officials and employees tasked to investigate such alleged fraudulent scheme and their consequent failure to prosecute those involved in the incident.

Bainto added that the Task Force PhilHealth would continue to pursue further targeted investigations on the alleged corruption and anomalies in the state health insurance firm. (PNA)

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