At least two top guns of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) face a wave of charges, including technical malversation, for allowing the payment of P156.7 million in withholding taxes to health care institutions.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson bared this at the start of the Senate Committee of the Whole’s hearing on corruption at the PhilHealth on Tuesday.
He named PhilHealth president-CEO Ricardo Morales and SVP for fund management sector Renato Limsiaco Jr. as among those facing such charges.
“Malamang maliligo kayo ng kaso kapag ibinahagi na ni Senate President Tito Sotto Kay DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra ang lahat na records ng proceedings ng pagdinig na sinasagawa namin ngayon, pati na po ng Task Force na pinangungunahan ni Sec. Guevarra ay inatasan ng Pangulo na mag-imbestiga ng mga katiwalian sa PhilHealth upang sampahan ng kaukulang kaso ang mga sangkot sa karumal-dumal na gawaing pinaguusapan natin ngayon at sampu ng ating mga kababayan ngayong panahon pa man din ng pandemya na hindi man lang ninyo pinatawad,” he said in his opening statement.
Lacson said Limsiaco and Morales may also face charges for violating the National Intenal Revenue Code and Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or RA 3019, if other instances of corruption are taken into account including payment of Interim Reimbursement Mechanism funds for COVID-19 to private dialysis centers, maternity care providers and infirmaries that do not cater to COVID-19 patients.
“Kaya huwag ninyo asahan na papatawarin kayo ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he said.
Lacson noted malversation of public funds or property involves misappropriating funds or consenting to it “through abandonment or negligence.”
Those guilty of malversation shall also suffer the penalty of perpetual special disqualification and a fine equal to the amount of the funds malversed or equal to the total value of the property embezzled, he noted.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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